General  Nelson's 

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GENERAL   NELSON'S   SCOUT 


As  lightly  as  a  Bird  he  cleared  the  Fence. 


General  Nelson's  Scout 


BY 


Byron  A.   Dunn 


Chicago 

A.  C.  McClurg  and  Company 

1898 


Copyright 
By   a.   C.    McCLURG    &    COMPANY 

A.    D.    1898 

All  rights  reserved 


TO 

iHilton, 

MY  LITTLE   SON, 

WHO   WAS   GREATLY    INTERESTED    IN   THE    STORY 

OF   "GENERAL   NELSON'S   SCOUT," 

WHILE    BEING    WRITTEN, 

AND   WHO    GAVE    ME    MANY   VALUABLE    HINTS, 

THIS   VOLUME    IS 

AFFECTIONATELY    DEDICATED, 


602869 


INTRODUCTION. 

'T^HROUGHOUT  the  following  pages  the  threads 
-■■  of  history  and  fiction  are  closely  interwoven. 
The  plot  of  the  story  is  laid  in  the  dark  and  stormy 
days  of  1861,  amid  the  waving  trees  and  blue  grass 
fields  of  Central  Kentucky. 

No  State  wept  more  bitter  tears  at  the  com- 
mencement of  the  dreadful  struggle  between  the 
North  and  the  South  than  Kentucky.  With  lov- 
ing arms  she  tried  to  encircle  both,  and  when  she 
failed,  in  the  language  of  one  of  her  most  eloquent 
sons,  "So  intense  was  her  agony  that  her  great 
heart  burst  in  twain." 

Resolutions  of  neutrality  did  little  good.  Sym- 
pathies and  beliefs  are  not  controlled  by  resolu- 
tions or  laws,  and  never  can  be.  Kentucky  was 
divided  into  two  great  hostile  camps.  The  Seces- 
sion element  was  very  active,  and  the  Union  men 
saw  the  State  slowly  but  surely  drifting  into  the 
arms  of  the  Confederacy. 

Then  it  was  that  Lieutenant  William  Nelson  of 
the   United   States   navy,   a    well-known    and   very 

7 


8  IN  TROD  UC  TION. 

popular  Kentuckian,  asked  the  privilege  of  raising 
ten  regiments  of  Kentucky  troops.  The  request 
was  granted,  and  Nelson  at  once  commenced  his 
task.  Only  a  man  of  iron  determination  and  the 
highest  courage  would  have  dared  to  undertake  such 
a  work.  He  became  the  object  of  the  fiercest 
hatred  and  opposition, — even  from  many  who  pro- 
fessed to  love  the  Union.  But  he  never  wavered 
in  his  purpose,  and  established  a  camp  for  his  re- 
cruits at  Dick  Robinson,  a  few  miles  east  of  Dan- 
ville. 

Here  it  is  that  the  story  opens,  and  Nelson  is  the 
chief  historic  figure — a  figure  with  many  imperfec- 
tions, yet  it  can  be  said  of  him  as  it  was  of  King 
James  V.,  in  "The  Lady  of  the  Lake": 

"On  his  bold  visage  middle  age 
Had  slightly  pressed  its  signet  sage, 
Yet  had  not  quenched  the  open  truth 
And  fiery  vehemence  of  youth; 
Forward  and  frolic  glee  was  there, 
The  will  to  do,  the  soul  to  dare." 

All  military  movements  chronicled  in  the  story 
are  historically  correct.  The  riot  in  Louisville,  the 
fight  for  the  arms,  the  foiling  of  the  plot,  the  throw- 
ing of  the  train  from  the  track,  are  all  historical 
incidents. 

Every  real  character  in  the  story  is  called  by  his 
true   name.      In   this   class  belong  Colonel  Peyton 


INTROD  UC  TION.  9 

and  his  son  Bailie.      The  high  character  of  the  one 
and  the  eloquence  of  the  other  are   not  overdrawn. 

The  story  of  Shiloh,  as  told,  may  be  contra- 
dicted, but,  the  author  believes,  cannot  be  success- 
fully controverted.  Had  it  not  been  for  General 
Nelson,  Buell's  army  would  never  have  reached  the 
battlefield  of  Shiloh  Sunday  night. 

Fred  Shackelford  and  Calhoun  Pennington,  the 
heroes  of  the  story,  are  children  of  the  imagination, 
as  well  as  their  relatives  and  friends. 

With  this  brief  introduction,  the  author  sends 
forth  this  little  volume,  hoping  that  the  rising  gener- 
ation may  not  only  read  it,  but  enjoy  it,  and  be 
somewhat  enlightened  by  it. 

Through  bitter  tears  and  dreadful  carnage  the 
Union  was  preserved ;  and  through  it  all  there  has 
come  a  great  blessing.  Thoroughly  united,  the 
North  and  the  South  are  vying  with  each  other  in 
upholding  the  honor  of  the  flag.  Shoulder  to 
shoulder  they  stand,  battling  that  the  last  remnant 
of  tyranny  may  be  driven  from  the  New  World. 

B.  A.  D. 

Waukegan,  III.,  June,  1898. 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER 

I.  THE   QUARREL   AND  THE   OATH 

II.  THE    MEETING  WITH   NELSON    - 

III.  THE   DAY   AFTER   BULL   RUN 

IV.  THE   TRIP  TO   NASHVILLE 

V.  FATHER   AND   SON     - 

VI.  THE    FIGHT   FOR   THE   ARMS 

VII.  THE   FOILING  OF   A   PLOT 

VIII.  A   DARING   DEED 

IX.  A    LEAP   FOR    LIFE    - 

X.  IN   THE    HANDS   OF    THE    ENEMY 

XI.  CRAZY    BILL    SHERMAN 

XII.  A   DESPERATE   ENCOUNTER 

XIII.  THE   MEETING   OF   THE   COUSINS 

XIV.  THE   BATTLE   OF    MILL   SPRINGS 
XV.  A   FIGHT   WITH    GUERRILLAS 

XVI.  FORT   DONELSON 

XVII.  AFTER   THE    BATTLE 

XVIII.  "WE    BOTH    MUST    DIE  " 

XIX.  SHILOH 

XX.  "MY    son!     MY    son!" 


PAGE 

22 

34 

58 

80 

98 
115 
135 
153 

167 

187 
195 

206 

227 

238 
253 

267 

279 
294 

3" 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


As  lightly  as  a  Bird  he  cleared  the  Fence     -    Frontispiece. 
He  plunged  forward,  and   passed    the  Goal 

half-a-length  ahead  ....  Facing  page  22 
He  dealt  the  Ruffian  such  a  Blow  that  he  fell  like  a  log  54 
As  quick  as   a  flash  Fred  snatched  a  Revolver  from  the 

holster 78 

"  You  here  !  "  gasped  the  Major,  and  he  made  a  grab  for 

his  collar 130 

"  Fire  !  Fire  !  "  thundered  a  Colonel  who  had  just  sprung 

out  of  the  foremost  car 142 

Fred  raised  his  Head,  "Ferror  !  Ferror!"  he  cried         -     186 
The    Federals   were    among    them,    shooting,   sabering, 

riding  them  down 202 

The  Battle  now  raged  along  the  entire  line  with  great  fury     236 
Fred    drew    his   Revolver,    and    the    Guerrilla   dropped 

from  his  horse  .--.--..  246 
"Why,    Boys,  they  are  trying  to  get  away;   we  mustn't 

let  them " 266 

"For  God's  Sake,  don't  shoot!  I  promise"  -        -         -         290 
Springing   from   his  horse,    he  bent  over   the  death-like 

form        -        -        -        - 316 


GENERAL   NELSON'S   SCOUT. 


CHAPTER   I. 

THE  QUARREL  AND  THE  OATH. 

A  SHORT  distance  from  Danville,  Kentucky, 
on  the  afternoon  of  July  21,  1861,  two  boys 
might  have  been  seen  seated  by  the  roadside  under 
the  branches  of  a  wide-spreading  oak.  Near  by, 
tethered  to  the  stout  rail  fence  which  ran  along  the 
side  of  the  road,  were  two  spirited  thoroughbred 
horses  that  champed  their  bits  and  restlessly 
stamped  their  feet,  unnoticed  by  their  young  own- 
ers, who  seemed  to  be  engaged  in  a  heated  discus- 
sion. 

The  two  boys  were  nearly  the  same  age  and 
size,  and  were  cousins.  Calhoun  Pennington,  who 
was  the  more  excited  of  the  two,  was  very  dark, 
and  his  black  hair,  which  he  wore  long,  was  flung 
back  from  a  broad  and  handsome  forehead.  His 
countenance  was  flushed  with  anger,  and  his  eyes 
fairly  blazed  with  suppressed  wrath. 

His  companion,  Frederic  Shackelford,  was  not 
quite  as  large  as  Calhoun,  but  his  frame  was  more 
closely   knit,  and    if   it   came  to  a  trial   of  strength 

15 


1 6  GENERAL   NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

between  the  two,  it  would  take  no  prophet  to  tell 
which  would  prove  master. 

Frederic  was  as  fair  as  his  cousin  was  dark.  His 
eyes  were  deep  blue,  and  his  hair  had  a  decided 
tinge  of  red.  The  firm  set  lips  showed  that  he 
was  not  only  a  boy  of  character,  but  of  decided  will. 
While  his  tones  expressed  earnestness  and  deep 
feeling,  his  countenance  did  not  betray  the  excite- 
ment under  which  his  cousin  labored.  Young  as 
Frederic  was,  he  had  learned  the  valuable  lesson  of 
self-control. 

So  earnest  did  the  discussion  between  the  two 
boys  become,  that  Calhoun  Pennington  sprang  to 
his  feet,  and  raising  his  clenched  hand,  exclaimed  in 
passionate  tones:  "Do  you  mean  to  say  that  Ken- 
tucky is  so  sunk  in  cowardice  that  she  will  not 
enforce  her  proclamation  of  neutrality?  Then  I 
blush  I  am  a  Kentuckian." 

"I  mean  to  say,"  calmly  replied  Frederic,  "that 
it  will  be  impossible  for  Kentucky  to  enforce  her 
ideas  of  neutrality.  Kentuckians  are  no  cowards, 
that  you  know,  Calhoun ;  but  it  is  not  a  question 
of  courage.  The  passions  aroused  are  too  strong 
to  be  controlled.  The  North  and  the  South  are  too 
thoroughly  in  earnest;  the  love  of  the  Union  on 
one  side,  the  love  of  the  rights  of  the  States  on  the 
other,  is  too  sincere.  We  could  not  remain  neu- 
tral, if  we  wished.  As  well  try  to  control  the 
beating  of  our  hearts,  as  our  sympathies.  We  are 
either  for  the  old  flag,  or  against  it." 

"I  deny  it,"  hotly  cried  Calhoun;  "you  fellows 


THE  QUARREL   AND    THE   OATH.  17 

who  are  always  preaching  about  the  old  flag  are  not 
the  only  ones  who  love  the  country.  It  is  we  who 
are  trying  to  keep  it  from  becoming  an  instrument 
of  oppression,  of  coercion,  who  really  love  the  old 
flag.  But  I  know  what  is  the  matter  with  you. 
Owing  to  the  teachings  of  that  Yankee  mother  of 
yours,  you  are  with  the  Abolitionists,  nigger-steal- 
ers,  the  mud-sills  of  creation,  lower  and  meaner 
than  our  slaves.  You  had  better  go  back  to  those 
precious  Yankee  relatives  of  yours;  you  have  no 
business  in  Kentucky  among  gentlemen." 

Frederic's  eyes  flashed.  He  raised  his  clenched 
hand  convulsively;  then,  with  a  tremendous  effort, 
he  controlled  himself  and  slowly  replied:  "Cal- 
houn, we  have  always  been  friends  and  compan- 
ions, more  like  brothers  than  cousins;  but  if  you 
value  my  friendship,  if  you  do  not  wish  me  to  be- 
come your  deadliest  enemy,  never  speak  disrespect- 
fully of  my  mother  again.  If  you  do,  young  as  I 
am,  I  shall  demand  of  you  the  satisfaction  one  gen- 
tleman demands  of  another.  This  refused,  I  shall 
shoot  you  like  a  dog." 

For  a  moment  Calhoun  gazed  in  the  counte- 
nance of  his  cousin  in  silence.  In  the  stern,  set 
features,  the  dangerous  gleam  of  the  eye,  he  read 
the  truth  of  what  he  had  heard.  He  was  fully 
as  brave  as  his  cousin,  and  for  a  moment  a  bitter 
and  stinging  reply  trembled  on  his  lips;  then  his 
better  nature  conquered,  and  extending  his  hand, 
he  said:  "There,  Fred;  I  didn't  mean  to  hurt 
your  feelings,  much  less  reflect  on  the  memory  of 


1 8  GENERAL   NELSON'S   SCOUT. 

your  mother.  From  the  North  though  she  was, 
she  was  one  of  the  best  of  women,  and  you  know  I 
loved  her  almost  as  much  as  you  did  yourself,  for 
in  many  ways  she  was  a  mother  to  me.  Forgive 
me,  Fred." 

Fred  grasped  the  extended  hand,  and  with  tears 
in  his  eyes  exclaimed,  "I  might  have  known  you 
did  not  mean  it,  Cal.  You  are  too  noble  to  say 
aught  of  one  who  loved  you  as  my  mother  did. 
Forgive  my  hasty  words." 

"There  is  nothing  to  forgive,  Fred;  you  did  just 
right." 

For  a  moment  the  boys  remained  silent,  and 
then  Fred  resumed:  "Cal,  we  must  both  try  to 
be  charitable.  Simply  to  be  for  the  North  or  the 
South  does  not  make  one  a  gentleman.  True 
manhood  is  not  measured  by  one's  political  belief. 
Your  father  is  none  the  less  a  gentleman  because 
he  is  heart  and  soul  with  the  South.  Calhoun, 
dark  and  fearful  days  are  coming — have  already 
come.  Father  will  be  against  son,  brother  against 
brother.  Members  of  the  same  family  will  become 
the  deadliest  enemies.  Our  beloved  Kentucky  will 
be  rent  and  torn  with  warring  factions,  and  the 
whole  land  will  tremble  beneath  the  shock  of  con- 
tending armies.  Ruined  homes  will  be  everywhere ; 
little  children  and  women  will  flee  to  the  mountains 
for  safety." 

"Not  if  Kentucky  enforces  her  position  of  neu- 
trality," broke  in  Calhoun.  "The  picture  you 
draw    is   one   you     Unionists    are   trying    to    bring 


THE  QUARREL   AND    THE   OATH.  19 

about.  We,  who  would  enforce  neutrality,  would 
^void  it." 

"Calhoun,  do  n't  be  deceived.  You  know  that 
in  many  parts  of  Kentucky  it  is  dangerous  now  for 
a  Union  man  to  express  his  sentiments.  Hundreds 
of  Kentuckians  have  left  to  join  the  Confederate 
army.  They  do  so  boldly  with  colors  flying  and 
drums  beating.  On  our  southern  border,  armies  are 
gathering  ready  to  spring  over  at  a  moment's 
notice.  Kentucky  cannot,  if  she  would,  remain 
neutral.  I  feel,  I  know,  evil  times  are  coming — 
are  now  here.  Calhoun,  a  few  moments  ago  we 
came  near  having  a  deadly  quarrel.  I  shudder  as 
I  now  think  of  it.  What  if  we  had  quarreled ! 
What  if  one  of  us  had  killed  the  other,  we  who  are 
like  brothers!  Oh,  Calhoun!  let  us  swear  eternal 
friendship  to  each  other.  Let  us  promise  to  be 
careful  and  not  say  anything  to  each  other  that  will 
rankle  and  hurt.  We  know  not  what  will  come, 
what  the  future  has  in  store  for  us,  or  whither  we 
shall  be  led.  Let  us  swear  to  succor  and  save  each 
other,  even  at  the  peril  of  our  lives,  if  necessary. 
Wherever  we  may  meet,  let  us  meet  as  friends — 
each  ready  to  protect  the  life  and  honor  of  the 
other.      Let  us  swear  it." 

"Fred,"  slowly  replied  Calhoun,  "it  is  a  very 
strange  compact  you  ask.  It  sounds  like  some  old 
story  of  knight-errantry.  You  must  be  getting 
romantic.  But  when  I  think  of  how  near  we  came 
to  flying  at  each  other's  throats,  if  you  are  willing 
to  make  such  a  solemn  compact,  I  am." 


20  GENERAL  NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

And  there,  on  that  July  evening,  under  the 
spreading  oak,  the  boys  clasped  hands  and  took  a 
solemn  oath  to  stand  by  each  other,  come  what 
might ;  even  unto  death  would  they  be  true  to  each 
other. 

Little  did  either  think  what  would  be  the  out- 
come of  that  strange  compact.  Little  did  they 
realize  that  the  day  would  come  when  that  oath,  if 
kept,  would  lead  both  into  the  very  jaws  of  death 
— an  ignoble  and  terrible  death.  That  oath,  un- 
der the  spreading  oak,  on  that  July  evening  be- 
tween two  boys,  was  to  become  the  pivot  around 
which  the  fate  of  contending  armies  depended. 

Calhoun  was  the  first  to  speak  after  the  making 
of  the  solemn  compact.  "Fred,"  he  exclaimed, 
"now  that  we  have  sworn  eternal  friendship,  it  will 
not  do  for  us  to  quarrel  any  more.  Like  the  man 
and  his  wife  they  tell  about,  'we  agree  to  dis- 
agree.' But  see  how  restless  our  horses  are.  They 
must  be  disgusted  with  our  loitering.  Let  us  have 
a  race.  See  that  tree  yonder,  nearly  a  mile  away, 
where  the  Danville  and  Nicholasville  roads  cross?  I 
can  beat  you  to  that  tree,  and  if  I  do,  the  South 
wins." 

"Done,"  cried  Fred,  for  he  had  all  the  love  of  a 
true  Kentucky  boy  for  a  horse  race.  "Now, 
Prince,"  said  he,  as  he  unhitched  his  horse,  and 
patted  his  glossy  neck,  "you  hear.  This  race  is  for 
the  old  flag.  Win,  or  never  hold  up  your  head 
again." 

"Selim,"  cried  Calhoun,  "how  do  you  like  that? 


THE  QUARREL   AND    THE   OATH.  21 

It  is  the  cause  of  the  Sunny  South  that  is  at  stake. 
Win,  Selim,  or  I  will  sell  you  to  the  meanest  Abo- 
litionist in  the  North." 

Both  boys  vaulted  into  their  saddles,  and  at  the 
word  their  steeds  were  away  like  the  wind. 


CHAPTER  II. 

THE    MEETING   WITH    NELSON. 

NEVER  was  there  a  hotter  race  run  in  Ken- 
tucky. Neck  and  neck  the  horses  ran,  neither 
seemingly  able  to  gain  an  inch  on  the  other. 
The  goal  grew  alarmingly  near.  Each  rider  bent 
over  the  neck  of  his  flying  steed,  and  urged  him  on 
with  word  and  spur.  The  tree  was  scarcely  twenty 
yards  away.  "Now,  Prince,  if  ever,"  cried  Fred. 
The  horse  seemed  to  understand.  With  a  tremen- 
dous effort,  he  plunged  forward,  and  passed  the 
goal  half  a  length  ahead. 

"Won!"  cried  Fred,  but  his  huzzah  died  on 
his  lips.  The  excitement  of  the  race  had  made  the 
boys  careless,  and  they  ran  into  a  squad  of  horse- 
men who  were  passing  along  the  other  road.  Fred 
came  nearly  unhorsing  the  leader  of  the  squad,  a 
heavy-set,  red-faced  man  with  bushy  hair  that  stood 
up  all  around  his  large  head.  He  was  dressed  in 
the  uniform  of  an  ofificer  of  the  United  States  navy. 
As  for  Calhoun,  he  entirely  unhorsed  a  black 
groom,  who  was  bringing  up  the  rear  of  the  squad. 

The  darky  scrambled  to  his  feet  unhurt,  and 
forgetting  his  fright  in  his  enthusiasm,  shouted: 
"Golly,    massa,  dat  was  a  race,  suah.      Dat  a  hoss 


He  plunged  forward,  and  passed  the  Goal  half-a-length  ahead. 


THE  MEETING    WITH  NELSON.  23 

woth  habin'."  Like  a  true  Kentucky  negro,  he 
loved  a  fine  horse,  and  gloried  in  a  race. 

But  with  the  officer,  it  was  different.  As  soon 
as  he  could  quiet  his  horse,  he  let  fly  such  a  volley 
of  oaths  that  the  boys  sat  on  their  horses  too  dum- 
founded  to  say  a  word.  The  officer  swore  until  he 
was  out  of  breath,  and  had  to  stop  from  sheer  ex- 
haustion. 

At  the  first  opportunity,  Fred  took  off  his  hat 
and  politely  said : 

"We  beg  a  thousand  pardons,  sir,  but  I  was  rac- 
ing for  the  old  flag,  and  had  to  win,  even  if  I  had 
had  to  run  over  the  commander-in-chief  of  the 
army,  instead  of  a  lieutenant  of  the  navy." 

"Lieutenant  of  the  navy!  lieutenant  of  the 
navy!"  roared  Nelson,  for  it  was  he,  "I  will  show 
you,  young  man,  I  command  on  dry  land,  as  well 
as  on  the  water,"  and  the  air  once  more  grew  sul- 
phurous. 

"Really,"  dryly  remarked  Fred,  "if  you  fight 
as  well  as  you  swear,  Kentucky  will  soon  be  clear 
of  rebels." 

Nelson's  companions  roared  with  laughter.  As 
for  Nelson,  his  face  twitched  for  a  moment,  and 
then  he,  too,  commenced  to  laugh. 

"It  is  a  good  thing  for  you,  young  man,"  he 
exclaimed,  "that  you  do  n't  belong  to  the  army  or 
I  would  have  you  tied  up  by  the  thumbs.  As  it  is, 
will  you  tell  me  what  you  meant  by  saying  that  you 
were  racing  for  the  old  flag  and  had  to  win?" 

"Why,  sir,  my  cousin,   here,  challenged  me  for 


24  GENERAL  NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

a  race,  saying  if  he  won  the  South  would  triumph ; 
but  if  I  won,  the  old  flag  would  be  victorious.  So 
you  see,  sir,  I  had  to  win,  even  if  I  had  had  to  run 
clear  over  you.  You  ought  to  thank  me  for  win- 
ning the  race,  instead  of  swearing  at  me  for  jostling 
your  dignity  a  little." 

Nelson  chuckled. 

All  of  this  time  Calhoun,  after  soothing  his 
horse,  had  been  a  quiet  spectator  of  the  scene.  He 
felt  nettled  over  losing  the  race,  and  was  not  in  the 
best  of  humor. 

"So,"  said  Nelson,  turning  to  Calhoun,  "you 
ran  for  the  South  to  win,  did  you?  Might  have 
known  you  would  have  been  beaten.     What  have 

you  got  to  say  for  yourself,  anyway,  you little 

rebel?" 

Calhoun's  eyes  flashed.  Drawing  himself 
proudly  up,  he  said:  "I  am  no  rebel.  I  am  a 
Kentuckian,  and  am  for  the  neutrality  of  Ken- 
tucky." 

"Neutrality  of  Kentucky,"  sneered  Nelson;  "of 
whom  did  you  learn  that  twaddle,  youngster? 
Neutrality  is  a  plea  of  cowards  to  hide  their  disloy- 
alty." 

Calhoun  grew  deadly  pale.  He  forgot  every- 
thing in  his  passion,  as  he  fairly  hissed: 

"And  you  are  Lieutenant  Nelson,  are  you? 
That  recreant  son  of  Kentucky,  who,  in  spite  of 
her  pledge  of  neutrality,  the  pledge  of  a  sovereign 
State,  is  violating  that  pledge  by  raising  troops  to 
subjugate  a  brave  and  heroic  people.     You  are  the 


THE  MEETING    WITH  NELSON.  25 

Benedict  Arnold  of  -Kentucky.  If  I  had  my  way, 
you  would  hang  from  the  nearest  tree.  Cowards 
are  they  who  would  keep  the  pledge  of  neutrality 
given  by  the  State?  You  lie,  and  boy  that  I  am, 
I  hurl  defiance  in  your  face,"  and  tearing  a  riding 
glove  from  his  hand,  he  hurled  it  with  all  the  force 
he  could  summon  into  the  face  of  the  astonished 
Nelson. 

For  a  moment  Nelson  was  speechless  with  rage; 
then  mechanically  he  reached  for  the  pistol  in  his 
holster.  With  a  sharp  exclamation,  Fred  spurred 
his  horse  between  the  angry  man  and  Calhoun,  and 
striking  down  Nelson's  arm,  cried:  "How  dare 
you!  For  shame,  to  shoot  a  boy!"  Then  turning 
to  Calhoun,  he  gave  the  sharp  command,  "Go!  go 
at  once!" 

Calhoun  obeyed,  and  boy  and  horse  were  off  like 
a  shot;  without  a  word  of  apology,  Fred  followed. 
Nelson  made  a  movement  as  if  to  pursue,  but  at 
once  reined  up  his  horse.  The  look  of  anger  soon 
passed  from  his  face ;  he  began  to  chuckle,  and 
then  to  laugh. 

Turning  to  one  of  his  stafT,  he  exclaimed :  ' '  Gad ! 
Lieutenant,  I  came  nearly  forgetting  myself  and 
shooting  that  boy.  It  would  have  been  an  outrage. 
He  has  the  grit,  the  true  Kentucky  grit.  I  am 
proud  of  both  of  those  boys.  I  shall  keep  my  eye 
on  them.      What  soldiers  they  would  make!" 

Such  was  General  William  Nelson,  fiery,  erratic, 
and  oftentimes  cruel,  but  at  all  times  ready  to 
acknowledge    true    courage    and    manliness    in    his 


26  GENERAL  NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

worst  enemy.  To  him,  more  than  to  any  other 
one  man,  does  the  government  owe  the  fact  that 
Kentucky  was  saved  to  the  Union.  In  the  face  of 
the  fiercest  opposition  he  never  faltered  in  his  pur- 
pose of  raising  troops,  and  the  most  direful  threats 
only  nerved  him  to  greater  exertion. 

The  two  boys  looking  back,  and  seeing  that  they 
were  not  pursued,  brought  their  horses  to  a  trot 
and  began  to  talk  of  their  adventure. 

"Fred,"  said  Calhoun,  "you  are  the  first  to  get 
in  your  work  on  that  oath.  I  believe  the  brute 
would  have  shot  me  if  it  had  not  been  for  you." 

"You  certainly  gave  him  great  provocation, 
Cal.  It  was  very  ungentlemanly  in  him  to  attack 
you,  a  boy,  as  he  did,  but  these  are  war  times.  My ! 
but  you  did  go  for  him,  Cal ;  you  really  looked  grand 
in  your  fiery  indignation.  I  could  not  help  admir- 
ing you,  even  if  you  were  foolish.  It  is  a  wonder 
he  did  not  shoot  you,  for  Nelson  is  a  man  of  un- 
governable temper  when  aroused." 

"He  would  have  shot  me,  Fred,  if  it  had  not 
been  for  your  brave  interference.  Come  to  think 
about  it,  I  could  not  blame  him  much,  if  he  had 
shot  me;  for  I  could  not  have  offered  him  a  greater 
insult  than  I  did.  I  was  hasty  and  excited ;  you 
were  cool  and  collected.      Fred,  I  thank  you." 

"No  more  of  that,  my  boy.  But,  Cal,  try  and 
govern  your  tongue.  Your  hasty  speech  and  tem- 
per will  get  you  in  serious  trouble  yet." 

"I  gave  the  villain  no  more  than  he  deserved. 
There  is  no  other  man  in   Kentucky  doing  as  much 


THE  MEETING    WITH  NELSON.  27 

as  Nelson  to  overthrow  the  sovereignty  of  the 
State;  there  is  no  other  man  doing  as  much  to  ar- 
ray one  portion  of  our  people  against  the  rest ;  and 
if  bloodshed  comes,  no  man  will  be  more  to  blame 
than  he.  He  should  be  arrested  and  hanged  as 
a  traitor  to  Kentucky,  and  I  am  glad  I  told  him 
so." 

"Calhoun,"  answered  Fred,  "you  have  heard 
neutrality  talked  so  much  you  are  blind  to  the 
real  facts.  Nelson  was  right  when  he  said  neutral- 
ity was  but  a  blind  for  secession.  If  Kentucky  is 
saved  to  the  Union,  it  will  be  saved  by  the  efforts 
of  such  men  as  he.  There  can  be  no  middle 
ground;  you  must  be  for  or  against  the  Union." 

"I  confess,"  answered  Calhoun,  "while  I  have 
been  talking  neutrality,  my  real  sympathy  has  been 
with  the  South.  Down  with  coercion,  I  say,  and 
death  to  all  renegades  like  Nelson." 

Fred  smiled.  "How  about  renegades  like  my- 
self, Cal?  But  I  am  glad  to  hear  you  expressing 
your  true  sentiments;  it  shows  you  are  honest  in 
them,  at  least." 

"Fred,  why  can't  you  think  as  I  do?  You  are 
too  honest,  too  brave,  to  side  with  Abolitionists 
and  mudsills.  They  are  a  dirty,  low,  mischievous 
set,  to  say  the  least.  There  can  be  but  one  issue 
to  the  war.  The  whole  dirty  crew  will  run  like 
cravens  before  the  chivalric  gentlemen  of  the 
South." 

"Don't  be  too  sanguine,  Cal,  about  the  run- 
ning.     Do   you    think   such   men   as    Nelson,   Fry, 


28  GENERAL   NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

Bramlette,  Woodford,  and  a  host  of  others  I  might 
name,  are  cowards?" 

"Oh!  I  didn't  mean  the  few  Kentuckians  who 
are  espousing  the  Union  cause,  but  the  riff-raff  and 
scum  of  the  North." 

"You  will  find  the  men  you  call  the  'riff-rafT  and 
scum  of  the  North,'  are  just  as  earnest,  just  as 
brave,  as  the  sons  of  the  South." 

"Do  you  think  so?" 

"Why  not?  Are  we  not  of  the  same  blood,  the 
same  language?  This  idea  that  the  people  of  the 
South  are  a  superior  race  to  the  people  of  the  North 
is  one  simply  born  of  our  pride  and  arrogance.  But 
you  ask  me  why  I  side  with  the  North.  Because 
the  North  battles  for  the  old  flag;  because  it  loves 
freedom.  Cal,  do  you  think  a  just  God  will  ever 
let  a  Confederacy  be  successful  whose  chief  corner- 
stone is  human  slavery?" 

Calhoun  flushed  and  muttered:  "They  are 
nothing  but  niggers,  and  the  Bible  upholds  slav- 
ery," 

"We  will  not  argue  that.  My  great-grandfather 
on  my  mother's  side  fell  on  Bunker  Hill.  Our 
great-grandfather  fought  at  Yorktown;  our  grand- 
father was  with  Jackson  at  New  Orleans.  All 
fought  under  the  old  flag;  all  fought  for  freedom, 
not  for  slavery.  Now,  do  you  think  I  can  raise  my 
hand  to  help  destroy  the  Union  they  helped  to  found, 
and  then  to  perpetuate?  I  cannot  do  it.  You 
think  differently,  but  let  us  remember  our  oaths 
and  be  friends,  even  unto  death." 


THE  MEETING    WITH  NELSON.  29 

"Do  you  think  I  can  forget  it,  after  what  you 
have  just  done  for  me?  But  see,  the  sun  is  getting 
low;   let  us  stop  this  discussion  and  hurry  up." 

Judge  Pennington,  the  father  of  Calhoun,  re- 
sided in  Danville,  and  the  two  boys  soon  cantered 
up  to  his  door.  Fred  did  not  put  up  his  horse,  as 
he  was  to  return  home.  After  tea  the  boys  saun- 
tered down  to  the  hotel  to  see  what  was  going  on. 
There  they  met  Nelson  and  his  party.  Their  first 
impulse  was  to  go  away,  pretending  not  to  notice 
him,  but  that  would  have  been  cowardly;  so  they 
walked  up  to  him,  apparently  unconcerned  as  to 
what  might  happen.  To  their  surprise.  Nelson 
held  out  his  hand,  and  laughingly  said : 

"How  are  you,  my  young  Hotspurs ;  and  so  you 
want  to  see  me  hanged,  do  you?"  addressing  Cal- 
houn. "Well,  my  boy,  better  men  than  I  may  be 
hanged  before  this  trouble  is  over;  and  many  as 
brave  a  boy  as  you  will  kiss  mother  for  the  last 
time.  My  boy,  if  it  needs  be  that  we  must  die, 
would  it  not  be  better  to  die  under  the  folds  of  the 
old  flag  than  under  the  bastard  stars  and  bars?" 

Calhoun  turned  away;  he  dared  not  trust  him- 
self to  speak,  so  Fred,  not  to  have  his  cousin  ap- 
pear rude,  said:  "Lieutenant,  let  me  once  more 
apologize  for  running  into  you.  I  am  very  sorry 
we  were  so  careless." 

"No  apology  is  necessary,  my  son.  A  boy  who 
runs  a  race  for  the  Union  and  wins  need  not  apolo- 
gize. I  would  know  you  better,  lad;  Kentucky 
has  need  of  all  such  as  you." 


30  GENERAL   NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

Just  then  an  orderly  rushed  up  to  Nelson  and 
excitedly  said  something  in  a  low  tone.  Nelson 
uttered  an  exclamation  of  surprise,  turned  abruptly, 
and  rapidly  walked  to  the  telegraph  office,  where  a 
dispatch  was  placed  in  his  hands.  He  glanced  at 
it,  turned  pale,  and  brave  man  though  he  was,  his 
hand  shook  as  though  stricken  with  palsy.  Silently 
he  handed  the  dispatch  to  Colonel  Fry,  who  stood 
by  his  side.  As  the  Colonel  read  it,  great  drops 
of  sweat  stood  out  on  his  forehead.  "Great  God!" 
was  all  that  he  said. 

"Fry,"  said  Nelson,  huskily,  "see  Colonel  Bram- 
lette,  who  is  fortunately  in  Danville ;  gather  up  all 
other  Union  officers  that  you  may  see,  and  meet  me 
at  once  in  my  room  at  the  hotel." 

It  was  a  group  of  panic-stricken  officers  who 
gathered  in  Nelson's  room  at  the  hotel.  Here  is 
the  dispatch  that  had  created  such  consternation : 

Cincinnati,  July  21,  6  p.  m. 
Lieutenant  Wm.  Nelson: 

Our  army  has  been  disastrously  beaten  at  Bull  Run,  and  are 
in  full  retreat  for  Washington.  That  city  may  be  in  possession 
of  the  enemy  before  morning.  Anderson. 

When  the  dispatch  was  read,  not  a  word  was 
spoken  for  a  moment,  and  then  Colonel  Fry  asked 
if  it  was  not  possible  to  keep  the  dispatch  secret. 

"No  use,"  replied  Nelson;  "it  has  already 
passed  through  the  hands  of  a  score  of  disloyal 
operators." 

"I  knew,"  spoke  up  a  young  lieutenant,  "that 
those   miserable   Eastern  Yankees  would  not  stand 


THE   MEETING    WITH  NELSON.  3 1 

up  before  the  Southern  soldiers.  We  might  as  well 
disband  and  go  home;  all  is  lost." 

"Lost!  lost!"  thundered  Nelson,  turning  on  the 
young  lieutenant  like  a  tiger.  "Go  home,  you 
craven,  if  you  want  to;  all  is  not  lost,  and  will  not 
be  lost  until  every  loyal  son  of  Kentucky  is  slain. 
We  have  enough  men  at  Dick  Robinson,  poorly 
armed  and  equipped  as  they  are,  to  hold  Central 
Kentucky.  With  such  colonels  as  Fry,  Bramlette, 
Garrard  Wolford,  and  the  host  of  gallant  ofificers 
under  them,  I  defy  the  devil  and  all  the  Secession- 
ists in  the  State  to  wrest  Central  Kentucky  from 
us." 

And  with  loud  huzzahs  the  officers  present 
swore  to  stand  by  Nelson,  and  come  what  might, 
they  would  hold  Central  Kentucky  for  the  Union. 
How  well  that  pledge  was  kept  history  tells. 

"It  is  not  for  Central  Kentucky,  I  fear,"  con- 
tinued Nelson;  "it  is  for  Louisville.  Can  we  save 
that  city  for  the  Union?  It  must  be  saved.  The 
loyal  men  there  must  save  it,  at  all  hazards.  They 
must  know  that  we  are  standing  firm  in  Central 
Kentucky.  But  how?  The  telegraph  is  in  the 
hands  of  the  enemy.  Any  word  I  sent  would  be 
known  at  once.  Oh!  I  have  it.  Fry;  send  for  that 
light-haired  boy  I  was  talking  with  at  the  hotel. 
Have  him  here  right  away." 

Fred  Shackelford  was  found  just  as  he  was 
mounting  his  horse  to  return  home.  Wondering 
what  Nelson  wanted  with  him,  he  accompanied  the 
messenger  to  that  officer's  room,  where  they  found 


32  GENERAL   NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

him  pacing  up  and  down  the  apartment  like  a 
caged  lion. 

"Where  is  your  companion?"  abruptly  asked 
Nelson  of  Fred. 

"At  home;  he  lives  here,"  answered  Fred. 

"Where  is  your  home?" 

"A  few  miles  out  on  the  Richmond  road." 

"Your  name?" 

"Frederic  Shackelford." 

"Frederic,  you  have  a  good  horse?" 

"Yes,  sir;  one  of  the  best  and  fastest  in  Ken- 
tucky." 

"Good;  now  Frederic,  you  told  me  that  you 
loved  the  Union." 

"Yes,  sir.  I  promised  my  mother  on  her  death- 
bed ever  to  be  faithful  to  the  old  flag." 

"Would  Kentucky  had  more  such  mothers.  A 
boy  like  you  never  breaks  a  promise  to  a  mother. 
Frederic,  do  you  want  to  do  your  country  a  great 
service,  something  that  may  save  Kentucky  to  the 
Union?" 

"What  is  it,  sir?" 

"To  take  some  important  dispatches  to  Louis- 
ville. Can  you  make  Nicholasville  by  ten  o'clock? 
A  train  leaves  there  at  that  hour  for  Lexington, 
thence  to  Louisville,  arriving  early  in  the  morning." 

Fred  looked  at  his  watch.  "It  is  now  seven," 
he  said.  "Yes,  I  can  make  Nicholasville  by  ten 
o'clock,  if  I  have  the  dispatches  right  away." 

"They  will  be  ready  in  ten  minutes,"  said  Nel- 
son, turning  away. 


THE  MEETING    WITH  NELSON.  33 

In  less  than  ten  minutes  the  dispatches  were 
given  to  Fred  with  instructions  to  place  them  at 
the  earliest  possible  moment  in  the  hands  of  James 
Speed,  Garrett  Davis,  J.  T.  Boyle,  or  any  one  of  a 
score  of  loyal  Louisvillians  whose  names  were 
handed  him  on  a  separate  sheet  of  paper. 

Fred  mounted  his  horse  and  rode  away,  and 
soon  the  swift  beating  of  his  horse's  hoofs  on  the 
dusty  turnpike  died  away  in  the  distance. 


i 


CHAPTER   III. 

THE    DAY   AFTER    BULL    RUN. 

COULD  Frederic  Shackelford  reach  Nicholasville 
in  less  than  three  hours?  "Yes,  it  can  be  done, 
and  I  will  do  it,"  thought  he  as  he  urged  his  steed 
onward,  and  left  mile  after  mile  behind  him.  It 
was  the  test  of  speed  and  bottom  of  the  best  horse 
in  Kentucky  against  time. 

While  Fred  is  making  this  desperate  ride,  our 
young  readers  may  wish  to  be  more  formally  intro- 
duced to  the  brave  rider,  as  well  as  to  the  other 
characters  in  the  story.  Frederic  Shackelford  was 
the  only  son  of  Richard  Shackelford,  a  prosperous 
Kentucky  planter  and  a  famous  breeder  of  horses. 
Mr.  Shackelford  was  a  graduate  of  Harvard,  and 
while  in  college  had  become  acquainted  with  Laura 
Carrington,  one  of  the  belles  of  Boston,  and  a 
famous  beauty.  But  Miss  Carrington's  personal 
charms  were  no  greater  than  her  beauty  of  mind 
and  character.  After  the  completion  of  his  college 
course,  Mr.  Shackelford  married  Miss  Carrington, 
and  transplanted  her  to  his  Kentucky  home.  The 
fruits  of  this  union  were  two  children,  Frederic,  at 
the  opening  of  this  story  a  sturdy  boy  of  sixteen, 
and    Belle,    a    lovely    little    girl    of    twelve.      Mrs. 

34 


THE  DAT  AFTER  BULL   RUN.  35 

Shackelford  was  very  happy  in  her  Kentucky  home. 
She  was  idolized  by  her  husband,  who  did  every- 
thing possible  for  her  comfort.  Yet,  in  the  midst 
of  her  happiness  and  the  kindness  shown  her,  Mrs. 
Shackelford  could  not  help  feeling  that  there  was  a 
kind  of  contempt  among  native  Kentuckians  for 
New  England  Yankees.  As  the  strife  over  slavery 
grew  fiercer,  the  feeling  against  the  North,  espe- 
cially New  England,  grew  stronger.  Many  a  time 
she  felt  like  retorting  when  she  heard  those  she 
loved  traduced,  but  she  hid  the  wound  in  her  heart, 
and  kept  silent.  But  she  could  never  accustom 
herself  to  the  institution  of  slavery.  She  was  a 
kind  mistress,  and  the  slaves  of  the  plantation 
looked  upon  her  as  little  less  than  an  angel;  but  she 
could  never  close  her  eyes  to  the  miseries  that  slav- 
ery brought  in  its  train. 

She  died  a  few  days  after  Fort  Sumter  was 
fired  upon.  A  few  hours  before  she  passed  away 
she  called  Frederic  to  her  bedside,  told  him  how 
his  great-grandfather  had  died  on  Bunker  Hill,  and 
asked  him  to  give  her  a  solemn  promise  to  ever  be 
true  to  the  flag  of  his  country. 

"Remember,  my  son,"  she  said,  "that  a  just 
God  will  never  prosper  a  nation  whose  chief  corner- 
stone is  human  slavery." 

These  words  sank  deep  into  Frederic's  heart,  and 
were  ever  with  him  during  all  the  dark  and  terrible 
days  which  followed.  He  readily  gave  his  mother 
the  promise  she  requested,  and  a  few  hours  after- 
ward she  sank  peacefully  to  rest. 


$6  GENERAL   NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

As  much  as  Frederic  loved  his  mother,  and  as 
deeply  as  he  grieved  for  her  in  the  months  and 
years  that  followed,  he  thanked  God  that  she  had 
been  spared  the  misery  and  agony  that  would  have 
been  hers  if  she  had  lived. 

Mr.  Shackelford  was  so  prostrated  by  the  death 
of  his  wife  that  for  some  weeks  he  paid  no  atten- 
tion to  the  turmoil  going  on  around  him.  He  was 
an  old  line  Whig  in  politics,  but  a  stout  believer  in 
the  rights  of  the  State.  He  deplored  the  war,  and 
hoped  against  hope  that  some  way  might  be  found 
to  avert  it. 

Judge  Horace  Pennington,  the  father  of  Cal- 
houn, was  one  of  the  most  honored  citizens  of 
Danville.  He  was  a  veritable  Southern  fire-eater, 
and  had  nothing  but  contempt  for  anything  that 
came  from  the  North.  But  his  integrity  was  as 
sterling  as  his  politics  were  violent.  He  was  the 
soul  of  honor  and  truth,  and  despised  anything  that 
looked  like  deception.  He  had  no  words  too 
strong  in  which  to  express  his  contempt  for  the  part 
Kentucky  was  taking  in  the  great  drama  that  was 
being  enacted.  When  the  State  refused  to  join  the 
Southern  Confederacy  his  rage  knew  no  bounds. 
He  would  have  nothing  to  do  with  the  plotting  that 
was  going  on.  "Let  us  go  out  like  men,"  he 
would  say,  "not  creep  out  like  thieves."  When 
the  State  declared  for  neutrality,  he  said:  "The 
State  is  sovereign ;  she  can  do  as  she  pleases,  but  it 
is  a  cowardly  makeshift;   it  will  not  last." 

The    mother    of    Calhoun    was    a  sister  of  Mr. 


THE  DAT  AFTER  BULL   RUN.  37 

Shackelford,  but  she  died  when  Calhoun  was  a 
baby,  and  for  years  another  Mrs.  Pennington  had 
presided  over  the  Judge's  household.  For  this  rea- 
son much  of  the  childhood  of  Calhoun  had  been 
spent  at  the  home  of  his  uncle,  and  thus  it  was  that 
he  and  Frederic  were  more  like  brothers  than 
cousins. 

The  position  of  Kentucky,  at  the  beginning  of  the 
great  Civil  War,  was  peculiar.  She  refused  to  fur- 
nish troops  for  the  suppression  of  the  rebellion;  she 
refused  to  secede.  Her  governor  was  an  ardent 
Secessionist;  the  majority  of  the  members  of  the 
Legislature  were  for  the  maintenance  of  the  Union. 
Her  people  were  nearly  equally  divided.  As  a  last 
resort  the  Legislature  passed  resolutions  of  neutral- 
ity, and  both  the  Federal  and  Confederate  govern- 
ments were  warned  not  to  invade  her  sacred 
soil.  For  a  time  both  governments,  in  part, 
respected  her  position,  and  sent  no  troops  from 
other  States  into  her  territory.  But  the  citi- 
zens of  Kentucky  were  not  neutral.  They  vio- 
lently espoused  the  cause  of  one  side  or  the 
other.  Thousands  of  Kentuckians  left  the  State 
and  joined  the  armies  of  the  Confederacy.  All 
through  the  State  the  secession  element  was  very 
active,  and  the  Federal  government  saw  it  must 
take  some  action  or  the  State  would  be  lost  to  the 
Union.  So  Lieutenant  William  Nelson  of  the 
United  States  navy,  and  a  native  Kentuckian,  was 
commissioned  to  raise  ten  regiments  of  Kentucky 
troops  for  service  in  the  Union  army.     This  move- 


38  GENERAL   NELSON'S   SCOUT. 

ment  met  with  the  most  violent  opposition,  even 
from  many  professed  Union  men,  who  claimed  that 
Kentucky's  position  of  neutrality  should  be  re- 
spected. The  militia  of  the  State,  known  as  "State 
Guards,"  was  mostly  officered  and  controlled  by 
the  Southern  element.  In  opposition  to  the  "State 
Guards,"  companies  were  organized  throughout  the 
State  known  as  "Home  Guards."  The  "Home 
Guards"  were  Union  men.  Thus  Kentucky  was 
organized  into  two  great  hostile  camps.  Such  was 
the  condition  of  affairs  at  the  opening  of  this  story. 

It  lacked  just  five  minutes  of  ten  o'clock  when 
Fred  reined  in  his  reeking  horse  before  the  hotel  at 
Nicholasville.  Placing  the  bridle  in  the  hands  of 
the  black  hostler,  and  handing  him  a  ten-dollar  bill, 
Fred  said:  "I  must  take  the  train.  This  horse 
has  been  ridden  fast  and  long.  See  that  he  has 
every  attention.  You  know  what  to  do  in  such 
cases." 

"Trus'  ole  Peter  fo'  dat,"  answered  the  darky, 
bowing  and  scraping.  "Youn'  massa  will  hab  his 
hoss  bac'  jes  as  good  as  ebber. " 

Fred  just  had  time  to  catch  the  train,  as  it 
moved  out  from  the  depot.  When  Lexington  was 
reached  he  had  to  make  a  change  for  Louisville. 
The  news  of  the  defeat  of  the  Federal  forces  at  Bull 
Run  had  reached  Lexington,  and  late  as  it  was  the 
streets  were  thronged  with  an  excited  crowd. 
Cheers  for  Beauregard  and  the  Southern  Confeder- 
acy seemed  to  be  on  every  tongue.  If  the  Union 
had   friends,  they  were  silent.      In  the  estimation 


THE  DAT  AFTER  BULL  RUN.  39 

of  the  excited  crowd  the  South  was  already  victori- 
ous; the  North  humbled  and  vanquished.  It  was 
now  but  a  step  before  Washington  would  be  in  the 
possession  of  the  Southern  army,  and  Lincoln  a 
prisoner  or  a  fugitive. 

That  the  Union  army  had  been  defeated  Vv^as  a 
surprise  to  Fred.  He  now  knew  why  Nelson  was 
so  urgent  about  the  dispatches,  and  realized  as 
never  before  that  the  nation  was  engaged  in  a  des- 
perate conflict.  The  cries  of  the  mob  angered  him. 
"I  wonder  where  the  Union  men  are,"  he  growled; 
"are  they  cowards  that  they  keep  silent?"  And 
Fred  was  about  to  let  out  a  good  old-fashioned  yell 
for  the  Union,  regardless  of  consequences,  when  he 
recollected  the  mission  he  was  on.  It  must  not  be; 
he  must  do  nothing  to  endanger  the  success  of  his 
journey,  and  he  bit  his  lip  and  kept  silent,  but  his 
blood  was  boiling.  Just  before  the  train  started 
two  gentlemen  came  in  and  took  the  seat  in  front 
of  him.  They  were  in  excellent  humor,  and  exult- 
ing over  the  Confederate  victory  in  Virginia.  One 
of  them  Fred  knew  by  sight.  He  was  a  prominent 
politician,  and  an  officer  of  the  State  Guards.  The 
other  gentleman  was  not  so  distinguished  looking  as 
his  companion,  but  his  keen  eyes  gave  his  clear-cut 
features  a  kind  of  dare-devil  expression.  But  be- 
yond this,  there  was  something  about  the  man  that 
would  give  one  the  impression  that  he  was  not  only 
a  man  of  daring,  but  of  cool,  calculating  judgment, 
just  the  man  to  lead  in  a  movement  that  would  re- 
quire both  daring  and  coolness.      As  soon  as  they 


40  GENERAL   NELSOJSTS  SCOUT. 

had  seated  themselves,  the  first  gentleman,  whom 
we  will  call  Major  Hockoday,  turned  to  his  com- 
panion and  said : 

"Well,  Morgan,  isn't  this  glorious  news?  I 
knew  those  truckling  Yankees  could  never  stand  be- 
fore the  gentlemen  of  the  South.  I  hardly  look 
for  much  war  now.  Washington  will  fall,  and  Lin- 
coln will  be  on  his  knees  before  a  week,  begging  for 
peace." 

Major  Hockoday's  companion  was  no  less  a 
personage  than  John  H.  Morgan,  afterward  one  of 
the  most  daring  raiders  and  dashing  cavalry  leaders 
produced  by  the  South. 

Morgan  did  not  answer  for  a  moment,  and  then 
slowly  replied : 

"Major,  I  think  that  you  politicians,  both 
North  and  South,  ought  to  show  more  sense  than 
you  do.  There  are  those  Northern  politicians  who 
have  been  declaring  the  war  would  not  last  for 
ninety  days.  The  time  is  up,  and  the  war  has 
hardly  begun.  Now  you  fellows  who  have  been 
associating  so  long  with  the  dough-faces  of  the 
North,  think  the  whole  North  is  a  truckling,  pusil- 
lanimous set.  In  my  business  I  have  met  another 
class  in  the  North — thrifty  and  earnest.  They  are 
not  only  earnest,  but  brave ;  and  not  only  brave,  but 
stubborn.  They  will  hold  on  like  bulldogs.  I 
fear  the  effects  of  this  victory  will  be  just  opposite 
to  what  you  think.  It  will  make  our  people  over- 
confident; it  will  tend  to  unify  the  North  and  nerve 
her  to  greater  exertion." 


THE  DAT  AFTER  BULL  RUN.  41 

"Nonsense,  Morgan,"  replied  Major  Hockoday, 
"what  ails  you?  You  will  hardly  hear  a  peep  from 
the  Union  men  of  Kentucky  after  to-morrow.  The 
only  thing  I  regret  is  that  Kentucky  has  not  taken 
her  rightful  place  in  the  Southern  Confederacy. 
We  have  talked  neutrality  so  much,  it  is  hard  to  get 
away  from  it." 

"Hockaday,  like  you,  I  think  Kentucky  has 
played  the  role  of  neutral  too  long — so  long  that 
she  is  already  lost  to  the  Confederacy,  only  to  be 
retaken  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet.  Central  Ken- 
tucky is  already  in  the  hands  of  that  devil.  Nelson. 
Poorly  organized  as  he  is,  he  is  much  better  organ- 
ized than  we.  Gods!  how  I  would  like  to  be  at 
the  head  of  a  cavalry  regiment  and  raid  that  camp 
at  Dick  Robinson;  and  I  would  do  it,  too,  if  I  had 
my  way.  But  you  politicians,  with  your  neutral- 
ity, have  spoiled  everything." 

"Look  here,  Morgan,"  replied  Major  Hocko- 
day, a  little  nettled,  "be  reasonable.  It  was  neu- 
trality or  worse.  Look  at  the  Union  sentiment  we 
had  to  contend  with.  The  State  absolutely  refused 
to  secede.  The  elections  all  went  against  us.  The 
Legislature  is  against  us.  We  had  to  take  neutrality 
to  keep  the  State  from  going  bodily  over  to  the 
Yankees " 

"That  's  it,"  broke  in  Morgan,  "with  your 
twaddle  about  State  rights  you  allowed  your  hands 
to  be  tied.  The  Legislature  should  have  been  dis- 
persed at  the  point  of  the  bayonet,  the  election 
annulled,  and  Kentucky  declared  out  of  the  Union. 


42  GENERAL   NELSON'S   SCOUT. 

If  we  had  done  this  two  months  ago,  we  would 
have  been  all  right." 

"That  is  what  we  propose  to  do  now,"  said  the 
major.  "See  here,  Morgan,"  and  he  lowered  his 
voice  to  a  whisper.  Fred  yawned,  and  leaned  his 
head  forward  on  the  seat  apparently  for  a  good 
sleep,  but  his  ears  were  never  more  alert.  He  could 
only  now  and  then  catch  a  word  something  like  this: 

"Send  message  —  Tompkins  —  Louisville  — 
Knights  Golden  Circle  —  take  Louisville  —  Stop  at 
Frankfort  —  Send  Captain  Conway  —  All  excite- 
ment —  Bull  Run  —  Louisville  ours. ' ' 

Fred  leaned  back  in  his  seat,  shut  his  eyes,  and 
commenced  to  think  hard.  What  did  it  mean? 
And  this  is  the  conclusion  that  he  reached:  That 
Major  Hockoday  was  going  to  send  a  message  from 
Frankfort  to  some  one  in  Louisville;  that  there 
was  to  be  an  uprising  of  the  Secessionists  with  the 
intention  of  capturing  the  city.  "Oh!"  thought 
Fred,  "if  I  could  only  get  hold  of  that  message. 
Can  I?"  and  again  he  fell  to  thinking. 

In  the  rear  of  the  car  sat  two  men,  one  dressed 
in  the  uniform  of  a  Federal  officer;  the  other  a 
sharp,  ferret-looking  man  who  would  readily  pass 
for  a  detective. 

An  idea  came  to  Fred.  He  thought  a  moment, 
and  then  said  to  himself,  "I  do  n't  like  the  decep- 
tion, but  it  is  the  only  way.  If  I  have  the  oppor- 
tunity, I  will  try  it.  I  must  have  that  message  if 
possible.  It  may  mean  much  to  the  Union  cause; 
it  may  mean  much  to  Louisville." 


THE   DAT  AFTER  BULL   RUN.  43 

The  train  stopped  at  Frankfort,  and  Major 
Hockoday  and  Morgan  alighted.  On  the  platform 
stood  a  short,  stumpy  man  with  a  very  red  face  and 
a  redder  nose. 

"How  do  you  do.  Captain,"  said  Major  Hocko- 
day, stepping  up  to  him  and  shaking  hands,  at  the 
same  time  slipping  an  envelope  into  his  other  hand, 
and  whispering  some  hurried  instructions  into  his 
ear. 

"Trust   me,"  said   the   captain;  "I  will   see  that 
your  letter  reaches  the  right  person  and  in  time." 

Fred  had  followed  Major  Hockoday  out  of  the 
car,  took  note  of  every  movement,  and  heard  every 
word  that  could  be  heard. 

The  bell  rang,  and  the  captain  entered  the  car. 
There  was  a  little  delay,  and  Fred,  who  had  got  on 
the  rear  of  the  car,  said  to  himself,  "This  little 
delay  is  a  blessed  thing  for  me,  for  it  helps  me 
carry  out  my  plan."  He  waited  until  the  train 
was  getting  under  good  headway,  and  then  entered 
the  car  pufifing  and  blowing  and  dropped  into  the 
seat  beside  the  captain,  where  he  sat  panting  as  if 
entirely  exhausted. 

"You  seem  to  have  had  a  hard  run  for  it,  my 
boy,"  said  the  captain. 

"Y-e-s, — had — to — make — it.  Had — to — see — 
you,"  panted  Fred,  speaking  in  gasps. 

"Had  to  see  me!"  exclaimed  the  startled  cap- 
tain.     "I  reckon  there  must  be  some  mistake." 

' '  No — mis-mistake.  Wa-wait — until — I — catch 
— my — breath,"  and   Fred  sat  puffing  as  if  he  had 


44  GENERAL  NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

run  a  mile  race.  His  companion  eyed  him  not 
only  in  surprise,  but  with  suspicion. 

After  Fred  had  let  sufficient,  time  elapse  to  re- 
gain his  breath,  he  said  in  a  low  tone:  "You  are 
Captain  Conway  of  the  State  Guards,  are  you  not?" 

"Yes,  but  what  of  that?" 

"You  have  just  received  an  important  letter 
from  Major  Hockoday  to  be  delivered  in  Louisville," 

Captain  Conway  stared  at  Fred  in  astonishment ; 
then  said  in  a  fierce  whisper,  "How  do  you  know 
that?" 

"Don't  get  excited,"  whispered  Fred;  "don't 
attract  attention,  or  all  is  lost.  Listen!  Hardly 
had  the  major  placed  the  letter  in  your  hands  be- 
fore he  received  the  startling  intelligence  that  he 
had  been  watched,  and  you  spotted.  Do  you  see 
those  two  men  in  the  rear  of  the  car,  one  in  the 
uniform  of  a  Federal  officer,  the  other  a  keen  look- 
ing fellow?" 

Captain  Conway  turned  quickly  and  saw  the 
men,  both  of  whom  happened  to  be  looking  at  him, 
and  as  the  captain  imagined  with  sinister  designs. 

"What  of  it?"  he  asked  in  a  trembling  voice. 

"The  gentleman  seated  by  the  side  of  the 
officer,"  continued  Fred,  "is  a  noted  detective 
from  Danville.  The  plan  is  to  declare  you  a  cele- 
brated thief,  and  arrest  you  and  take  you  off  the 
cars  at  Eminence.  Once  off,  they  will  search  you, 
get  your  dispatches,  and  let  you  go." 

"But  there  may  be  some  on  the  train  who  know 
me." 


THE  DAT  AFTER  BULL   RUN.  45 

"That  will  make  no  difference;  they  will  claim 
they  are  not  mistaken,  and  that  you  must  prove 
you  are  not  the  person  wanted  before  some  magis- 
trate." 

"What  can  I  do?  What  did  Major  Hockoday 
say  for  me  to  do?"  asked  the  now  thoroughly 
frightened  captain. 

"He  said  that  you  should  give  me  the  letter,  and 
for  you  to  leave  the  train  before  it  reached  Emi- 
nence, thus  giving  them  the  slip." 

"Boy,  you  are  an  impostor.  It  is  simply  a  plot 
to  get  hold  of  the  letter.  Why  did  not  Major 
Hockoday  write  me  this  order?" 

"He  had  no  time." 

"I  shall  not  give  you  the  letter." 

"Refuse  at  your  peril.  What  do  you  think  will 
happen  when  you  are  arrested  and  Major  Hocko- 
day's  letter  gets  in  the  hands  of  his  enemies.  He 
will  shoot  you  at  sight  for  betraying  him." 

"How  do  I  know  you  tell  the  truth?"  asked  the 
captain,  visibly  weakening. 

"How  did  I  know  about  the  letter  of  Major 
Hockoday,  if  he  had  not  sent  me?"  retorted  Fred. 

The  captain  grasped  at  the  last  straw.  "To 
whom  am  I  to  deliver  this  letter?"  he  asked.  He 
was  in  hopes  that  Fred  could  not  answer. 

"Tompkins,"  answered  Fred,  trembling,  think- 
ing his  answer  might  be  wrong. 

The  captain  was  convinced,  yet  sat  silent  and 
undecided.  He  glanced  back;  the  men  were  still 
looking    at    him.      He    shivered,    and    then    slyly 


46  GENERAL   NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

slipped  the  letter  into  Fred's  hand.  The  train 
stopped,  and  the  captain  arose  and  went  forward 
as  for  a  drink  of  water.  At  the  door  he  hesitated 
as  if  still  undecided.  Fred's  heart  beat  fast. 
Would  he  fail  after  all.  No,  he  would  jump  from 
the  train  himself  first.  The  bell  rang  for  the  train 
to  start,  and  the  captain  turned  as  if  to  come  back, 
at  the  same  time  glancing  at  the  two  gentlemen  in 
the  rear  of  the  car.  The  detective-looking  individ- 
ual had  arisen  to  his  feet,  and  was  reaching  for  his 
hip  pocket. 

Captain  Conway  waited  to  see  no  more ;  he 
turned,  bolted  from  the  car,  and  plunged  from  the 
now  moving  train  into  the  darkness. 

The  detective-looking  gentleman  drew  a  handker- 
chief from  his  pocket,  wiped  his  perspiring  face, 
and  sat  down  again.  On  such  little  incidents  do 
great  events  sometimes  depend. 

Fred  drew  a  long  breath.  He  had  taken  desper- 
ate chances,  and  won.  For  a  moment  he  felt  ex- 
ultant, and  then  his  face  grew  serious.  He  had  al- 
ways been  the  soul  of  truth  and  honor.  "And 
now,"  he  thought,  bitterly,  "I  have  been  lying  like 
a  pirate."  Had  he  done  right?  He  hardly  knew, 
and  the  wheels  of  the  cars  seemed  to  say,  as  they 
rattled  along,  "You  are  a  liar,  you  are  a  liar,"  over 
and  over  again,  until  he  leaned  his  head  on  the  seat 
in  front  of  him,  and  his  tears  fell  thick  and  fast. 

Poor  Fred!  He  had  yet  to  learn  that  deception 
was  one  of  the  least  evils  of  war. 

The  dawn  of  the  long  summer  day  was  just  be- 


THE  DAT  AFTER  BULL   RUN.  47 

ginning  to  brighten  the  east  when  the  train  rolled 
into  the  station  at  Louisville.  Early  as  it  was,  the 
streets  were  full  of  excited  men  and  boys,  cheering 
for  Jeff  Davis  and  the  South.  Fred  at  once  found 
his  way  to  the  home  of  one  of  the  best  known 
Union  men  of  the  city,  whom  we  will  call  Mr. 
Spear.  The  household  was  already  astir,  and  Fred's 
ring  was  at  once  answered  by  a  servant,  who  cau- 
tiously opened  the  door  and  asked,  "Who  is  dar?" 

"Is  Mr.  Spear  at  home?"  inquired  Fred. 

"Yes,  sah." 

"Tell  him  a  messenger  from  Lieutenant  Nelson 
wishes  to  see  him." 

The  servant  withdrew,  and  in  a  moment  re- 
turned, and  throwing  open  the  door,  said,  "  Massa 
says,  come  right  in,  sah." 

Fred  was  ushered  into  a  large  drawing-room, 
where  to  his  surprise  he  met  the  inquiring  gaze  of 
more  than  a  score  of  serious  looking  men.  They 
were  the  prominent  Union  men  of  the  city,  confer- 
ring with  a  number  of  the  city  officials  as  to  the 
best  method  of  preserving  peace  and  order  during 
the  day.  The  danger  was  great,  and  how  to  meet 
it  without  precipitating  a  conflict  was  the  question 
which  confronted  them.  Now  all  were  interested 
in  the  message  brought  by  Fred,  and  his  youthful 
appearance  caused  them  to  wonder  why  Nelson  had 
chosen  so  young  a  messenger. 

"You  have  a  message  from  Lieutenant  Nelson, 
I  understand,"  said  Mr.  Spear. 

"I  have.". 


48  GENERAL  NELSONS  SCOUT. 

"When  did  you  leave  Nelson?" 

"Last  evening  a  little  after  seven,"  answered 
Fred. 

"Where?" 

"At  Danville." 

"Impossible;  you  are  an  impostor." 

"You  are  mistaken.  I  rode  to  Nicholasville  in 
time  to  catch  the  ten  o'clock  train  to  Lexington, 
thence  to  Louisville." 

Those  present  looked  at  each  other  in  surprise. 
The  feat  to  them  seemed  scarcely  possible. 

"Your  message,"  said  Mr.  Spear,  "must  be 
important  to  demand  such  haste.     Where  is  it?" 

"Here,  sir,"  replied  Fred,  handing  him  the  let- 
ter.     Mr.  Spear  hastily  tore  it  open  and  read : 

Danville,  Ky.,  July  21,  7:00  p.  m. 
To  THE  Union  Men  of  Louisville: 

I  have  just  received  news  of  the  defeat  of  our  forces  at 
Bull  Run.  Even  if  Washington  falls,  we  must  not  despair. 
Kentucky  must  be  held  for  the  Union.  Thank  God,  I  have 
organized  enough  troops  to  hold  Central  Kentucky  against  any 
force  the  disorganized  rebels  can  bring  against  us.  Our  great 
danger  is  your  city.  Hold  Louisville,  if  her  streets  run  red 
with  blood.  Do  not  let  the  loyal  officials  be  driven  from  power. 
Call  on  Indiana  troops  if  necessary.  Don't  hesitate.  Dare 
anything  to  save  the  city.  Nelson. 

"Gentlemen,"  said  Mr.  Spear,  "the  advice  of 
Lieutenant  Nelson  should  be  followed  to  the  let- 
ter. The  city  must  be  saved,  peaceably  if  possi- 
ble, by  force  if  necessary." 

There  had  been  a  few  in  the  assembly  who  had 
hesitated  on  the  expediency  of  using  force,  but  the 
ringing  words  of  Nelson  had  completely  won  them 


THE  DAT  AFTER   BULL   RUN.  49 

over.  Louisville  was  to  be  held  for  the  Union, 
come  what  might. 

"And  now,"  said  Mr.  Spear,  "in  the  name  of 
the  loyal  citizens  of  our  city,  let  us  thank  this 
brave  boy. 

Fred  blushed,  and  then  stammered,  "This  is 
not  all,  gentlemen."  Then  in  a  modest  way,  he 
told  of  his  overhearing  the  conversation  between 
Major  Hockoday  and  Morgan,  of  his  plan  to  get 
possession  of  the  letter,  and  how  well  he  had  suc- 
ceeded. "And  here,  gentlemen,"  he  continued, 
"is  the  letter." 

There  was  a  murmur  of  astonishment,  and  Mr. 
Spear,  taking  the  letter,  broke  it  open  and  read : 

Lexington,  Ky.,  July  21st,  10  p.  m. 
J.  T.  Tompkins,  Louisville,  Ky. 

Honored  Sir: — The  news  of  the  great  victory  in  Virginia 
will  kindle  a  flame  from  one  end  of  Kentucky  to  the  other.  By 
the  time  this  reaches  you,  I  trust  Washington  will  be  in  the 
hands  of  the  Confederate  army,  and  Lincoln  a  prisoner  or  a 
fugitive.  Now  is  the  time  to  strike.  The  State  Guards  are 
eager,  but  owing  to  the  stand  of  the  State  regarding  neutrality, 
it  would  not  be  wise  for  them  to  begin  a  revolution  in  favor  of 
the  South,  as  that  action  would  bring  the  Federal  troops  down 
on  us,  and  we  are  not  strong  enough  yet  to  resist  them.  With 
you  it  is  different.  You  are  at  the  head  of  a  powerful  secret 
order  known  as  "The  Knights  of  the  Golden  Circle."  The 
State  is  not  responsible  for  your  acts  or  those  of  your  organiza- 
tion. During  the  excitement  of  to-morrow  organize  your  order, 
and  hurl  the  cowardly  and  traitorous  city  officials  of  Louisville 
from  power.  The  State  Guards  will  not  do  anything  to  prevent 
you,  and  many,  as  individuals,  will  help  you.  Act  promptly 
fearing  nothing.  See  that  not  a  single  Union  rag  is  left  waving 
in  Louisville  by  to-morrow  night. 

Signed:         Major  C.  S.  Hockoday, 

State  Guards. 


50  GENERAL  NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

For  a  moment  the  men  looked  into  each  other's 
faces  without  a  word ;  then  there  came  a  storm  of 
indignation. 

"The  cowardly,  traitorous  wretch!"  was  the  ex- 
clamation heard  on  all  sides.  "Forewarned  is  fore- 
armed," said  Mr.  Spear,  grimly.  "Gentlemen,  I 
think  we  shall  be  fully  prepared  for  Mr.  Tompkins 
and  his  'Knights  of  the  Golden  Circle.'  What  say 
you?" 

"That  we  will!"  was  the  cry  of  all.  "Mr. 
Tompkins  will  get  a  warm  reception." 

Then  they  crowded  around  Fred  and  nearly 
shook  his  hand  off.  But  he  sat  silent,  and  at  last 
looking  up  with  burning  cheeks,  stammered :  ' '  But 
— but,  I  lied — to  Conway." 

He  said  this  so  earnestly,  and  looked  so  dejected 
that  the  company  at  first  did  not  know  what  to  say ; 
then  they  all  burst  out  laughing. 

This  hurt  Fred  worse  than  a  reprimand,  and  the 
tears  came  into  his  eyes.  Mr.  Spear  seeing  how  it 
was,  at  once  commanded  attention,  and  said: 
"Gentlemen,  our  levity  is  ill-advised.  This  boy  is 
as  truthful  as  he  is  brave.  As  he  looks  at  it,  he 
has  been  guilty  of  an  untruth."  Then  turning  to 
Fred,  he  took  him  gently  by  the  hand,  and  said: 
"Your  action  is  but  a  fitting  testimonial  to  your 
truthful  nature.  But  be  comforted.  What  you 
have  done,  instead  of  being  wrong,  was  an  act  of 
the  greatest  heroism,  and  you  deserve  and  will  re- 
ceive the  thanks  of  every  Union  man." 

"Do  you  think  so?"  asked  Fred,  faintl)^ 


THE  DAT  AFTER  BULL  RUN,  51 

"I  know  so,  and  not  only  this,  but  your  action 
may  save  hundreds  of  Hves  and  our  city  from  de- 
struction. Let  the  good  that  you  have  done  atone 
for  the  deception  you  practiced  towards  Captain 
Conway." 

Fred  felt  relieved.  Then  he  was  told  he  must 
have  some  rest  after  his  terrible  ride  and  the  excit- 
ing events  of  the  night.  He  was  ushered  into  a 
darkened  chamber,  and  not  until  after  he  had  lain 
down,  and  the  excitement  under  which  he  had 
labored  began  to  pass  away  did  he  realize  how  ut- 
terly exhausted  he  was.  Tired  nature  soon  asserted 
itself,  and  he  slept  the  peaceful  sleep  of  the  young. 

When  Fred  awoke,  the  house  was  very  still.  He 
looked  at  his  watch,  and  to  his  surprise  found  it 
was  after  ten  o'clock.  Hurriedly  dressing,  he  went 
downstairs,  where  he  met  Mrs.  Spear,  and  when  he 
apologized  for  sleeping  so  late,  she  told  him  she  had 
orders  not  to  awake  him,  but  to  let  him  sleep  as 
long  as  he  would.  "But  come,"  she  said,  "you 
must  be  nearly  famished,"  and  she  led  him  into  the 
dining-room  where  a  tempting  meal  was  spread. 

What  puzzled  Fred  was,  that  although  it  was  so 
near  midday,  the  house  was  darkened  and  the  gas 
burning.  Every  shutter  was  closed  tight.  Mrs. 
Spear  appeared  nervous  and  excited,  and  the  ser- 
vants looked  as  though  frightened  out  of  their  wits. 
Although  everything  was  so  still  in  the  house,  from 
out-of-doors  there  arose  a  confused  noise  as  of  the 
tramping  of  many  feet,  the  mingling  of  many 
voices,  and  now  and  then  the  sound  of  wild  cheer- 


52  GENERAL   NELSON'S   SCOUT. 

ing  as  of  an  excited  mob.  Fred  looked  inquiringly 
at  Mrs.  Spear.      She  smiled  sadly  and  said : 

"This  promises  to  be  a  terrible  day  for  Louis- 
ville. But  for  the  forbearance  of  the  Union  men, 
there  would  have  been  bloody  fighting  before  this. 
The  news  of  the  Confederate  victory  in  Virginia  has 
crazed  the  rebel  element.  It  is  thought  an  effort 
will  be  made  to  overthrow  the  city  government.  If 
there  is,  there  will  be  bloody  work,  for  the  Union 
element  is  prepared.  Companies  of  men  are  in 
readiness  all  over  the  city  to  spring  to  arms  at  a 
moment's  notice.  I  fear  for  my  husband,  I  fear 
for  all  of  our  lives,  for  Mr.  Spear  is  a  marked  Union 
man."  She  stopped,  choked  back  a  sob,  and 
drawing  herself  proudly  up,  continued  with  flashing 
eyes:  "But  Louisville  will  be  saved,  if  husband, 
house  and  everything  go." 

Of  such  metal  were  the  loyal  women  of  Ken- 
tucky. Fred  hastily  swallowed  a  cup  of  coffee,  ate 
enough  to  appease  his  hunger,  and  announced  his 
intention  of  going  out  on  the  street. 

"You  must  not,"  said  Mrs.  Spear;  "my  husband 
left  special  word  for  you  to  remain  indoors.  There 
is  danger  out." 

Fred  smiled.  "That  is  just  the  reason  I  shall 
go  out,"  he  answered,  quietly. 

"Then,  if  you  must  go,"  replied  Mrs.  Spear, 
"here  is  a  weapon,"  and  she  handed  him  a  superb 
revolver.  "You  may  need  it,  but  do  not  use  it 
except  to  protect  your  own  life,  or  the  life  of  a 
Union  man.     This  is  the  order  given  to  all  loyal 


THE  DAT  AFTER  BULL   RUN.  53 

citizens.  Do  nothing  to  provoke  a  quarrel;  keep 
silent  even  if  insulted,  but  if  a  conflict  comes,  pro- 
tect yourself." 

Fred  thanked  her,  promised  to  be  careful,  and 
went  forth  into  the  city.  Through  the  principal 
streets,  vast  throngs  were  sweeping,  acting  as  if 
bereft  of  reason.  Everywhere  the  Confederate  flag 
was  waving.  Union  flags  were  being  trailed  in  the 
dust  and  stamped  in  the  mire.  Cries  for  Jeff  Davis, 
and  groans  for  Lincoln  were  heard  on  every  hand. 

As  time  went  on,  the  mob  grew  more  vio- 
lent. "Down  with  the  Yankees!"  "Kill  the  nisf- 
ger-stealers!"  "Kentucky  is  no  abolition  State!" 
"Death  to  the  Lincoln  hirelings!"  were  the  cries 
which  echoed  and  re-echoed  through  the  streets. 
Soon  stories  of  outrages,  of  private  grounds  being 
entered  and  flags  torn  down,  of  brutal  beatings  be- 
gan to  be  heard.  The  Unionists  began  to  gather 
in  knots  and  resent  insult.  Yet  each  side  seemed 
to  dread  the  beginning  of  a  real  conflict. 

Chief  among  those  exciting  the  people  was 
Tompkins,  the  head  of  the  "Knights  of  the  Golden 
Circle."  He  raged  through  the  streets,  defying  all 
authority.  Fred  looked  on  the  growing  excite- 
ment with  the  blood  swiftly  coursing  through  his 
veins.  His  eyes  blazed  with  fury  when  he  saw  the 
stars  and  stripes  trailed  in  the  dust  of  the  street. 
He  trembled  with  suppressed  rage  when  he  saw 
Union  men  reviled,  insulted. 

"It  is  true,"  he  said,  bitterly,  to  himself,  "that 
Union  men  are  cowards,  miserable  cowards,  or  they 


54  GENERAL  NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

would  resent  these  insults."  But  Fred  was  mis- 
taken; braver  men  never  lived  than  the  Union  men 
of  Louisville,  who  endured  the  taunts  and  insults 
of  that  day,  rather  than  provoke  a  conflict,  the  end 
of  which  no  man  could  tell. 

After  a  time  Fred  found  himself  on  a  residence 
street  where  there  was  a  break  in  the  mob,  and  the 
street  was  comparatively  quiet.  During  this  quiet 
a  young  lady  came  out  of  a  house,  and  hurriedly 
passed  down  the  street.  Suddenly  a  fragment  of 
the  mob  drifted  through  the  street,  and  she  was 
caught  in  the  vortex.  On  her  bosom  was  pinned  a 
small  Union  flag.  A  burly  rufiian  in  the  mob 
espied  it,  and  rushing  up  to  her,  shouted:  "Off 
with  that  dirty  rag,  you  she-Lincolnite!" 

"Never,"  she  exclaimed,  with  a  pale  face  but 
flashing  eye. 

"Then  I  will  take  it,"  he  exclaimed,  with  a 
coarse  oath,  and  snatched  at  the  flag  so  roughly  as 
to  tear  her  dress,  exposing  her  pure  white  bosom  to 
the  gaze  of  the  brutal  mob. 

There  was  a  howl  of  delight,  and  the  wretch 
made  bolder,  cried :  ' '  Now  for  a  kiss,  my  beauty, 
and  attempted  to  catch  her  in  his  smutty  arms. 
But  the  avenger  was  at  hand.  Fred  had  seen  the 
outrage,  and  picking  up  a  brick  that  happened  to 
lie  loose  on  the  pavement,  he  sprang  forward  and 
dealt  the  ruffian  such  a  blow  on  the  side  of  the  head 
that  he  fell  like  a  log,  striking  the  pavement  with 
such  force  that  the  blood  gushed  from  his  nose  and 
mouth. 


He  dealt  the  Ruffian  such  a  Blow  that  he  fell  like  a  loar. 


THE  DAT  AFTER  BULL   RUN.  55 

"Kill  the  young  devil  of  a  Lincolnite!"  was  the 
cry,  and  the  crowd  surged  towards  Fred.  But  those 
in  advance  drew  back,  for  they  looked  into  the 
muzzle  of  a  revolver  held  by  a  hand  that  did  not 
tremble,  and  gazed  into  young  eyes  that  did  not 
waver. 

"The  first  man  that  attempts  to  touch  her  or 
me,  dies,"  said  Fred,  in  a  clear,  firm  voice.  The 
mob  shrank  back;  then  a  fierce  cry  arose  of  "Kill 
him!  kill  him!" 

"Take  the  young  lady  to  a  place  of  safety,"  said 
a  low  voice  by  Fred's  side;  then  to  the  mob, 
"Back!  back!   or  come  on  at  your  peril." 

Fred  looked,  and  by  his  side  stood  a  stalwart 
policeman,  a  glistening  revolver  in  his  hand.  Near 
him  stood  other  determined  men,  ready  to  assist. 

"Come,"  said  Fred,  taking  the  young  lady's 
arm,  and  the  two  quickly  made  their  way  out  of  the 
mob,  which,  balked  of  its  prey,  howled  in  futile  rage. 

"I  live  here,"  said  the  young  lady,  stopping 
before  a  palatial  residence.  "My  name  is  Mabel 
Vaughn.  You  must  come  in  and  let  my  mother 
thank  you.  How  brave  you  were,  and  Policeman 
Green,  too.  How  can  I  thank  you  both  enough 
for  what  you  did  ! ' ' 

"You  must  excuse  me  now,"  replied  Fred,  po- 
litely raising  his  hat;  "but  to-morrow,  if  possible, 
I  will  call,  and  see  if  you  have  experienced  any  ill 
effects  from  the  rough  treatment  you  have  received. 
But  I  must  go  now,  for  I  may  be  of  some  further 
use,"  and  with  a  bow,  Fred  was  gone. 


56        GENERAL  NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

"If  he  were  only  older,  I  would  have  a  mind  to 
throw  Bob  overboard,"  said  the  young  lady  to 
herself,  as  she  entered  the  house. 

Going  back  to  the  scene  of  his  adventure,  Fred 
found  that  a  great  crowd  had  gathered  around  the 
place  where  he  had  knocked  the  ruffian  down. 

"What  is  this?"  yelled  Tompkins,  coming  up  at 
the  head  of  a  multitude  of  followers. 

"Shure,"  cried  an  Irish  voice,  "Big  Jim  is  kilt 
intoirely,   intoirely." 

"Who  did  it?"  demanded  Tompkins,  with  an 
oath.  No  one  knew.  By  this  time  Big  Jim,  with 
the  aid  of  two  companions,  had  staggered  to  his 
feet,  and  was  looking  around  in  a  dazed  condition. 

"He  will  come  around  all  right,"  said  Tomp- 
kins. "To  the  City  Hall,  boys.  Down  with  the  rag 
floating  there!  Down  with  the  city  of^cials;  let  's 
throw  them  into  the  Ohio,"  and  with  frightful 
cries,  the  mob  started  for  the  city  hall. 

But  the  brave,  loyal  policeman,  G.  A.  Green, 
the  one  who  had  assisted  Fred,  was  before  them. 
"Stop,"  he  cried,  "the  first  man  who  tries  to  enter 
this  building  dies." 

With  a  curse,  Tompkins  rushed  on  with  the  cry, 
"Down  with  the  Lincolnites!" 

There  was  the  sharp  crack  of  a  revolver,  and 
Tompkins  staggered  and  fell  dead.  His  followers 
stood  dumfounded.  Before  they  could  rally  there 
stood  around  the  brave  policeman  a  company  of 
armed  men.  This  was  not  all;  as  if  by  magic, 
armed   Home  Guards  appeared  everywhere.      The 


THE  DAT  AFTER  BULL   RUN.  57 

mob  stood  amazed.  Then  a  prominent  officer  of 
the  Home  Guard  came  forward  and  said : 

"We  do  not  wish  to  shed  more  blood,  but  the 
first  blow  struck  at  the  city  government,  and  these 
streets  will  run  red  with  the  blood  of  Secessionists. 
We  are  fully  prepared." 

Cowed,  muttering,  cursing,  the  mob  began  to 
melt  away.  The  crisis  was  passed.  The  sun  went 
down  on  one  of  the  most  exciting  days  Louisville 
ever  saw — a  day  that  those  who  were  there  will 
never  forget. 

The  city  was  saved  to  the  Union,  and  never 
afterward  was  it  in  grave  danger. 


CHAPTER   IV. 

THE   TRIP  TO   NASHVILLE. 

tt/^UITE  an  adventure,"   said  Mrs.  Spear,  to 

v^  whom  Fred  had  been  relating  his  expe- 
rience. "I  am  proud  of  you.  Why,  you  are  a 
regular  hero." 

"Hardly  that,"  replied  Fred,  blushing. 

"I  am  so  glad  it  has  ended  well,"  continued 
Mrs.  Spear;  "you  ran  a  terrible  danger,  and  I 
should  never  have  forgiven  myself  for  letting  you 
go  out,  if  any  evil  had  befallen  you." 

"I  should  never  have  forgiven  myself  if  I  had 
not  been  there  to  protect  that  brave  young  lady," 
answered  Fred,  firmly. 

"Of  course,  a  true  knight  must  protect  a  fair 
lady,"  said  Mrs.  Spear,  "And  you  were  fortunate. 
Sir  Knight,  for  Mabel  Vaughn  is  one  of  the  fairest 
of  Louisville's  daughters.  It  was  just  like  her  to 
brave  any  danger  rather  than  conceal  her  colors. 
She  is  loyal  to  the  core." 

"She  seems  to  be  a  very  nice  young  lady," 
replied  Fred,  "  and  she  is  extremely  pretty, 
too." 

"What  a  pity  you  are  not  older,"  said  Mrs. 
Spear,  "so  you  could   fall  in  love  with  each  other 

58 


THE    TRIP    TO  NASHVILLE.  59 

and  get  married,  just  as  they  do  in  well-regulated 
novels." 

"How  do  you  know  that  I  am  not  in  love  with 
her  now?"  answered  Fred,  his  eyes  sparkling  with 
merriment;  "and  as  for  my  youth,  I  will  grow." 

"Oh!  in  that  case,  I  am  really  sorry,"  replied 
Mrs.  Spear,  "for  I  think  she  is  spoken  for." 

Fred  assumed  a  tragic  air,  and  said  in  blood- 
curdling tones:  "Where  was  the  recreant  lover 
that  he  did  not  protect  her?  Never  shall  my  good 
sword  rest  until  it  drinks  his  craven  blood." 

Mrs.  Spear  laughed  until  she  cried.  "You  will 
call  on  your  lady  love  before  you  return?"  she 
queried. 

"Most  assuredly,  and  it  must  be  an  early  morn- 
ing call,  for  I  leave  for  home  at  ten  o'clock." 

The  warmth  of  welcome  given  Fred  by  the 
Vaughns  surprised  him,  and,  to  his  astonishment,  he 
found  himself  a  hero  in  their  eyes. 

Miss  Mabel  Vaughn  was  a  most  charming  young 
lady  of  eighteen,  and  when  she  grasped  Fred's 
hand,  and,  with  tears  in  her  eyes,  poured  out  her 
thanks,  he  felt  a  curious  sensation  about  his  heart, 
and  as  he  looked  into  her  beautiful  face,  he  could 
not  help  echoing  the  wish  of  Mrs.  Spear,  "Oh, 
that  I  were  older." 

But  this  fancy  received  a  rude  shock  when  a  fine 
looking  young  man,  introduced  as  Mr.  Robert 
Marsden,  grasped  his  hand,  and  thanked  him  for 
what  he  had  done  for  his  betrothed. 

"And   to   think,"   said   Marsden,   "that   Mabel 


6o  GENERAL   NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

was  in  danger,  and  that  you,  instead  of  me,  pro- 
tected her,  makes  me  insanely  envious  of  you." 

"As  for  that.  Bob,"  archly  said  Miss  Mabel,  "I 
am  glad  you  were  not  there.  I  dare  say  Mr. 
Shackelford  did  far  better  than  you  would  have 
done." 

Marsden  flushed  and  said  nothing.  Seeing  he 
looked  hurt.  Miss  Vaughn  continued:  "I  mean 
you  would  have  been  so  rash  you  might  have  been 
killed." 

"Which  would  have  been  far  worse  than  if  I  had 
been  killed,"  said  Fred,  meekly. 

"Oh!  I  did  n't  mean  that,  I  did  n't  mean  that!" 
cried  Miss  Vaughn,  bursting  into  tears. 

"Which  means  I  ought  to  be  kicked  for  uttering 
a  silly  joke,"  answered  Fred,  greatly  distressed. 
"Please,  Miss  Vaughn,  let  us  change  the  subject. 
How  did  you  happen  to  be  on  the  street?" 

"I  had  been  calling  on  a  sick  friend  a  few  doors 
away,  and  I  thought  I  could  reach  home  in  safety 
during  the  few  moments  of  quiet.  My  friend 
wanted  me  to  remove  the  little  flag  from  the  bosom 
of  my  dress  before  I  ventured  out,  but  I  refused, 
saying,  'I  would  never  conceal  my  colors, '  and  I 
was  caught  in  the  mob,  as  you  saw." 

"And  I  shall  consider  it  the  happiest  day  of  my 
life  I  was  there,"  gallantly  answered  Fred.  "And 
we  must  not  forget  the  brave  policeman." 

"That  I  will  not,"  replied  Miss  Vaughn. 

"There  is  one  good  thing  it  has  brought  about, 
anyway,"    said   Marsden.     "Mabel   has    at   length 


THE    TRIP    TO  NASHVILLE.  6l 

consented  that  I  shall  enter  the  army.  She  would 
never  give  her  consent  before.  I  shall  wear  this 
little  flag  that  she  wore  yesterday  on  my  breast, 
and  it  will  ever  be  an  incentive  to  deeds  of  glory, 
and  it  shall  never  be  disgraced,"  and  the  young 
man's  eyes  kindled  as  he  said  it. 

"Oh!  Robert,  if  you  should  be  killed!"  and  the 
girl  sobbed  piteously.  Had  a  shadow  of  the  future 
floated  before  her?  Months  afterward  that  little 
flag  was  returned  to  her  bloodstained  and  torn. 

"Come,  come!"  said  Mrs.  Vaughn,  "this  will 
never  do,  rather  let  us  rejoice  that  we  are  all  alive 
and  happy  this  morning.  Mabel,  give  us  some 
music." 

Two  or  three  lively  airs  dispelled  all  the  clouds, 
and  Fred  took  his  leave  with  the  promise  that  he 
would  never  come  to  Louisville  without  calling. 

Fred's  return  to  Nicholasville  was  without  ad- 
venture. He  wondered  what  had  become  of  Cap- 
tain Conway,  and  laughed  when  he  imagined  the 
meeting  between  the  captain  and  Major  Hockoday. 
He  found  Prince  none  the  worse  for  his  fast  riding, 
and  jumping  gaily  on  his  back,  started  for  home, 
returning  by  way  of  Camp  Dick  Robinson.  Here 
he  met  Lieutenant  Nelson,  who  warmly  grasped  his 
hand,  and  thanked  him  for  his  services  in  deliver- 
ing his  message. 

"But,"  continued  Nelson,  "I  have  heard  ru- 
mors of  your  performing  a  still  more  important 
part,  and  securing  papers  of  the  greatest  value  to 
us.      Tell  me  about  it." 


62  GENERAL  NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

When  Fred  related  his  meeting  with  Major 
Hockoday  and  Morgan,  and  how  he  had  wrung  the 
dispatch  from  Captain  Conway,  Nelson  nearly  went 
into  an  apoplectic  fit  from  laughter.  Then  he  stood 
up  and  looked  at  the  boy  admiringly. 

"Fred,"  he  said,  "you  have  done  what  one  man 
in  a  hundred  thousand  could  not  have  done.  The 
government  shall  know  of  this.  Not  only  this; 
but  if  you  will  enter  my  service,  not  as  a  spy,  but 
as  a  special  messenger  and  scout,  I  will  see  that  you 
are  enrolled  as  such  with  good  pay." 

Fred  shook  his  head.  "You  must  remember, 
sir,  I  am  but  a  boy  still  under  the  control  of  my 
father.  I  accepted  the  mission  from  you,  which 
I  did,  on  the  impulse  of  the  moment;  and  I  fear 
when  I  return  home,  I  shall  find  my  father  very 
much  offended." 

"Is  your  father  a  Union  man?"  asked  Nelson. 

"I  do  not  know.  My  mother  died  but  a  few 
weeks  ago,  and  since  her  death  father  has  taken  no 
interest  in  the  events  going  on  around  him.  I 
have  never  heard  him  express  any  opinion  since  the 
war  really  began.  Before  that  he  was  in  hopes  it 
could  be  settled  peaceably." 

"Well,  my  boy,  whatever  happens,  remember 
you  have  a  friend  in  me.  Not  only  this,  but  if  you 
can  arrange  it  amicably  with  your  father,  I  may 
call  on  you,  if  at  any  time  I  have  a  very  delicate 
mission  I  wish  to  have  performed." 

Fred  thanked  him,  and  rode  on  to  his  home. 
He  found  his  father  in  very  earnest  conversation 


THE    TRTP    TO  NASHVILLE.  63 

with  his  uncle,  Judge  Pennington,  and  Colonel 
Humphrey  Marshall,  a  well-known  Kentuckian. 
The  trio  were  earnestly  discussing  the  war,  Judge 
Pennington  and  Colonel  Marshall  trying  to  convince 
Mr.  Shackelford  that  it  was  his  duty  to  come  out 
boldly  for  the  South,  instead  of  occupying  his  posi- 
tion of  indifference. 

When  Mr.  Shackelford  saw  Fred,  he  excused 
himself  a  moment,  and  calling  him,  said :  "Where 
in  the  world  have  you  been,  Fred?  I  thought  you 
were  with  your  Cousin  Calhoun,  and  therefore  bor- 
rowed no  trouble  on  account  of  your  absence.  But 
when  your  uncle  came  a  few  moments  ago,  and  in- 
formed me  you  had  not  been  there  for  three  days, 
I  became  greatly  alarmed,  and  as  soon  as  I  could 
dismiss  my  visitors  I  was  going  to  institute  a  search 
for  you." 

"I  am  all  right,  father,"  answered  Fred.  "I 
have  been  to  Louisville.  I  will  tell  you  all  about 
it  when  you  are  at  leisure." 

''Very  well,"  replied  Mr.  Shackelford,  and  went 
back  and  resumed  the  conversation  with  his  guests. 

In  the  evening,  when  father  and  son  were  alone, 
Fred  told  where  he  had  been,  and  who  sent  him. 
Mr.  Shackelford  looked  grave,  and  said : 

"Fred,  this  is  a  bad  business.  Since  the  death 
of  your  mother,  I  have  taken  but  Httle  interest  in 
passing  events.  I  have  just  awakened  to  the  fact 
that  there  is  a  great  war  in  progress." 

"Yes,  father,"  said  Fred  in  a  low  tone,  "war 
on  the  old  flag.     Which  side  should  one  be  on?" 


64  GENERAL  NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

Mr.  Shackelford  did  not  answer  for  a  moment, 
and  then  he  said,  with  a  troubled  countenance: 
"I  had  almost  as  soon  lose  my  right  arm  as  to  raise 
it  against  the  flag  for  which  my  fathers  fought. 
On  the  other  side,  how  can  I,  a  man  Southern 
born,  raise  my  hand  against  my  kindred?  Ken- 
tucky is  a  sovereign  State;  as  such  she  has  resolved 
to  be  neutral.  The  South  is  observing  this  neutral- 
ity, the  North  is  not.  Even  now  the  Federal 
government  is  raising  and  arming  troops  right  in 
our  midst.  This  Lieutenant  Nelson,  to  whom  you 
have  rendered  such  valuable  services,  is  foremost  in 
this  defiance  of  the  wishes  of  Kentucky.  The 
raising  and  arming  of  Federal  troops  must  be 
stopped,  or  the  whole  State  will  be  in  the  throes 
of  a  fratricidal  strife.  Your  uncle  and  Colonel 
Marshall  are  for  Kentucky's  seceding  and  joining 
the  South.  For  this  I  am  not  prepared,  for  it 
would  make  the  State  the  battleground  of  the  con- 
tending armies.  But  the  neutrality  of  Kentucky 
must  be  respected.  Let  me  hear  no  more  of  your 
aiding  Nelson,  or  you  are  no  son  of  mine." 

"Father,  you  say  Kentucky  is  a  sovereign  State. 
Is  it  right  then  for  those  who  favor  the  South  to 
try  and  force  Kentucky  into  the  Southern  Confed- 
eracy against  the  will  of  a  majority  of  her  people?" 

Mr.  Shackelford  hesitated,  and  then  said:  "As 
much  right  as  the  Unionists  have  to  force  her  to 
stay  in.  But  I  do  not  ask  you  to  aid  the  South, 
neither  must  you  aid  Nelson." 

Mr.    Shackelford    drew   a   deep   sigh,   and    then 


THE    TRIP    TO  NASHVILLE.  65 

continued:  "Your  mother  being  a  Northern 
woman,  I  suppose  you  have  imbibed  some  of  her 
peculiar  ideas.  This  war  is  a  terrible  thing,  Fred. 
Oh,  God!  why  must  the  two  sections  fight?"  And 
he  turned  away  to  hide  his  feelings. 

Under  the  circumstances,  Fred  thought  it  best 
not  to  say  anything  about  his  adventure  with  Cap- 
tain Conway,  or  what  happened  in  Louisville. 
But  he  readily  promised  his  father  he  would  do 
nothing  to  aid  either  side   without  consulting  him. 

"Now,  Fred,"  said  Mr.  Shackelford,  "this 
business  being  settled,  I  have  another  matter  I 
wish  to  talk  about.  My  business  is  in  such  shape 
it  is  of  the  utmost  importance  that  I  get  some 
papers  to  your  Uncle  Charles  in  Nashville  for  him 
to  sign.  Mail,  you  know,  is  now  prohibited  be- 
tween the  two  sections.  To  travel  between  the  two 
States  is  becoming  nearly  impossible.  It  will  soon 
become  entirely  so.  Even  now,  the  journey  may 
be  attended  with  great  danger;  and  I  would  not 
think  of  asking  you  if  it  was  not  so  important  for 
your  Uncle  Charles  to  sign  the  papers.  But  as 
much  as  I  would  like  to  have  you  make  the  jour- 
ney, I  shall  not  command  you,  but  let  you  exercise 
your  own  pleasure." 

"Just  the  thing!"  shouted  Fred,  his  boyish 
enthusiasm  and  love  of  adventure  aroused.  "I 
shall  enjoy  it.  You  know  a  spice  of  danger  adds 
enjoyment  to  one's  journey." 

"Well,"  said  his  father,  "it  is  all  settled,  then, 
but  be  very  careful,    for  they  tell   me    the   whole 


66  GENERAL  NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

country  is  in  a  state  of  fearful  ferment.  One  thing 
more,  Fred;  if  you  have  any  Union  sentiment,  sup- 
press it  entirely  while  you  are  gone.  It  will  not 
do  in  Middle  Tennessee;  there  are  no  Union  men 
there." 

The  next  morning,  after  kissing  his  little  sister 
good-bye,  and  promising  his  father  to  be  very  care- 
ful, Fred  started  on  his  journey.  Nashville  was 
about  one  hundred  and  sixty  miles  away,  and  he 
calculated  he  could  reach  it  in  three  days.  From 
Danville  he  took  the  main  road  to  Liberty,  thence 
to  Columbia,  where  he  stopped  for  the  night.  His 
next  day's  ride  took  him  to  Glasgow,  then  south  to 
Scottsville.  He  found  the  whole  country  in  a  state 
of  the  greatest  excitement ;  and  passed  numerous 
companies  of  Kentuckians  going  south  to  join  the 
Confederate  army.  After  leaving  Columbia,  he 
saw  nothing  but  the  Confederate  flag  displayed.  If 
there  were  any  Unionists,  they  did  not  let  the  fact 
be  known. 

Just  over  on  the  Tennessee  side,  as  he  passed 
into  that  State,  was  a  large  encampment  of  Confed- 
erate troops;  and  Fred  was  repeatedly  asked  to 
enlist,  while  many  a  covetous  eye  was  cast  on  his 
horse.  It  was  afternoon  before  he  reached  Galla- 
tin, where  he  stopped  for  refreshments  for  himself 
and  horse. 

He  found  the  little  city  a  perfect  hotbed  of  ex- 
citement. The  people  were  still  rejoicing  over  the 
victory  at  Bull  Run,  and  looking  every  day  for 
Washington  to  fall.     To  them  the  war  was  nearly 


THE    TRIP    TO  NASHVILLE.  67 

over,  and  there  was  joy  on  every  countenance. 
When  it  became  known  at  the  hotel  that  Fred  was 
from  Kentucky,  he  was  surrounded  by  an  eager 
crowd  to  learn  the  news  from  that  State. 

In  reply  to  his  eager  questioners,   Fred  said : 

"Gentlemen,  I  do  not  know  that  I  can  give  you 
anything  new.  You  know  that  Kentucky  has  voted 
to  remain  neutral,  but  that  does  not  prevent  our 
people  from  being  pretty  evenly  divided.  Many  of 
our  most  prominent  men  are  advocating  the  cause 
of  the  South,  but  as  yet  they  have  failed  to  over- 
come the  Union  sentiment.  The  day  after  the 
battle  of  Bull  Run  there  was  a  riot  in  Louisville, 
and  it  was  thought  that  the  friends  of  the  South 
might  be  able  to  seize  the  city  government,  but  the 
movement  failed. 

"Where  did  you  say  you  were  from?"  asked 
one  of  the  bystanders. 

"From  Danville,"  answered  Fred. 

"You  are  all  right  in  that  section  of  the  coun- 
try, are  you  not?" 

"On  the  contrary,"  replied  Fred,  "a  Lieuten- 
ant Nelson  has  organized  a  camp  at  Dick  Robinson, 
but  a  few  miles  from  where  I  live,  and  is  engaged 
in  raising  ten  regiments  of  Kentucky  troops  for  the 
Federal  army." 

The  news  was  astounding,  and  a  murmur  of 
surprise  ran  through  the  crowd,  which  became  a 
burst  of  indignation,  and  a  big  red-faced  man 
shouted : 

"It  's  a  lie,  youngster;  Kentuckians  are  not  all 


68  GENERAL   NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

cowards  and  Abolitionists.  You  are  nothing  but  a 
Lincolnite  in  disguise.  Hang  him,  boys!  hang 
him!" 

"You  are  right,"  said  Fred,  advancing  on  the 
man,  "when  you  say  all  Kentuckians  are  not  cow- 
ards. Some  of  them  still  have  courage  to  resent 
an  insult,  especially  when  it  is  offered  by  a  cur," 
and  he  dealt  the  man  a  blow  across  the  face  with 
his  riding-whip  with  such  force  as  to  leave  an  angry, 
red  mark. 

The  man  howled  with  pain  and  rage,  and  at- 
tempted to  draw  a  revolver,  but  stout  hands  laid 
hold  of  him,  and  he  was  dragged  blaspheming 
away. 

Meanwhile  it  looked  as  if  there  might  be  a  riot. 
Some  were  hurrahing  for  the  boy;  others  were 
shaking  their  heads  and  demanding  that  Fred  fur- 
ther give  an  account  of  himself.  He  had  been 
called  a  Lincolnite,  and  that  was  enough  to  damn 
him  in  the  eyes  of  many. 

"What  is  all  this  fuss  about?"  cried  a  command- 
ing looking  young  man,  dressed  in  the  uniform  of  a 
lieutenant  of  the  Confederate  army,  pushing  his 
way  through  the  crowd. 

"Oh,  this  hyear  young  feller  struck  Bill  Pear- 
son across  the  face  with  his  ridin'-whip  for  callin' 
him  a  Lincolnite  and  a  liah,"  volunteered  a  seedy, 
lank  looking  individual. 

"Which  seems  full  enough  provocation  for  a 
blow.  Bill  is  fortunate  he  has  n't  got  a  hole 
through  him,"  responded  the  young  lieutenant. 


THE    TRIP    TO  NASHVILLE.  69 

"But  maybe  he  is  a  Lincolnite,"  persisted  the 
seedy  individual.  "He  said  Kentuck  wouldn't 
'cede,  and  that  they  was  raisin'  sogers  to  help 
whip  we  'uns." 

"How  is  it,  my  boy?"  asked  the  lieutenant, 
turning  to  Fred.  "Who  are  you,  and  where  did  you 
come  from?" 

Fred  explained  what  had  happened ;  how  he 
had  been  asked  for  news  from  Kentucky,  and  that 
he  had  told  them  only  the  truth.  He  then  gave 
his  name,  and  said  he  was  on  his  way  to  Nashville 
to  visit  his  uncle,  Charles  Shackelford. 

"Fellow-citizens,"  said  the  young  officer  in  a 
voice  that  at  once  commanded  attention,  "this 
young  man  informs  me  that  he  is  a  nephew  of 
Major  Charles  Shackelford  of  Nashville,  who  is  now 
engaged  in  raising  a  regiment  for  the  Confederate 
service.  No  nephew  of  his  can  be  a  Lincolnite. 
(Here  Fred  winced.)  As  for  the  news  he  told,  un- 
fortunately it  's  true.  Kentucky,  although  thou- 
sands of  her  gallant  sons  have  joined  us,  still  clings 
to  her  neutrality,  or  is  openly  hostile  to  us.  It  is 
true,  that  a  renegade  Kentuckian  by  the  name  of 
Nelson  is  enlisting  troops  for  the  Yankees  right  in 
the  heart  of  Kentucky.  But  I  believe,  almost 
know,  the  day  is  not  distant,  when  the  brave  men 
of  Kentucky  who  are  true  to  their  traditions  and 
the  South  will  arise  in  their  might,  and  place  Ken- 
tucky where  she  belongs,  as  one  of  the  brightest 
stars  in  the  galaxy  of  Confederate  States.  In  your 
name,  fellow-citizens,    I   want   to   apologize   to  this 


7o  GENERAL   NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

gallant   young   Kentuckian    for  the   insult    offered 
him.'" 

The  young  lieutenant  ceased  speaking,  but  as 
with  one  voice,  the  multitude  began  to  cry,  "Go 
on!  go  on!     A  speech.  Bailie,  a  speech!" 

Thus  abjured.  Lieutenant  Bailie  Peyton,  for  it 
was  he,  mounted  a  dry-goods  box,  and  for  half  an 
hour  poured  forth  such  a  torrent  of  eloquence  that 
he  swayed  the  vast  audience,  which  had  gathered, 
as  the  leaves  of  the  forest  are  swayed  by  the  winds 
of  heaven. 

He  first  spoke  of  the  glorious  Southland;  her 
sunny  skies,  her  sweeping  rivers,  her  brave  people. 
He  pictured  to  them  the  home  of  their  childhood, 
the  old  plantation,  where  slept  in  peaceful  graves 
the  loved  ones  gone  before. 

Strong  men  stood  with  tears  running  down  their 
cheeks;  women  sobbed  convulsively.  "Is  there 
one  present  that  will  not  die  for  such  a  land?"  he 
cried  in  a  voice  as  clear  as  a  trumpet,  and  there 
went  up  a  mighty  shout  of  "No,  not  one!" 

He  then  spoke  of  the  North;  how  the  South 
would  fain  live  in  peace  with  her,  but  had  been 
spurned,  reviled,  traduced.  Faces  began  to  darken, 
hands  to  clench.  Then  the  speaker  launched  into 
a  terrific  philippic  against  the  North.  He  told  of 
its  strength,  its  arrogance,  its  insolence.  Lincoln 
was  now  marshaling  his  hireling  hosts  to  invade 
their  country,  to  devastate  their  land,  to  desecrate 
their  homes,  to  let  loose  their  slaves,  to  ravish  and- 
burn.      "Are   we   men,"    he  cried,  "and   refuse  to 


THE    TRIP    TO  NASHVILLE.  7 1 

protect  our  homes,  our  wives,  our  mothers,  our 
sisters!" 

The  effect  was  indescribable.  Men  wept  and 
cried  Hke  children,  then  raved  and  yelled  like  mad- 
men. With  clenched  hands  raised  towards  heaven, 
they  swore  no  Yankee  invader  would  ever  leave  the 
South  alive.  Women,  with  hysterical  cries,  be- 
seeched  their  loved  ones  to  enlist.  They  de- 
nounced as  cowards  those  who  refused.  The 
recruiting  officers  present  reaped  a  rich  harvest.  As 
for  Fred,  he  stood  as  one  in  a  trance.  Like  the 
others,  he  had  been  carried  along,  as  on  a  mighty 
river,  by  the  fiery  stream  of  eloquence  he  had  heard. 
He  saw  the  Southland  invaded  by  a  mighty  host, 
leaving  wreck  and  ruin  in  its  wake.  He  heard  help- 
less women  praying  to  be  delivered  from  the  lust  of 
brutal  slaves,  and  raising  his  hand  to  heaven  he 
swore  that  such  things  should  never  be. 

Then  came  the  reaction.  His  breast  was  torn 
with  conflicting  emotions,  he  knew  not  what  to 
think.  In  a  daze  he  sought  his  horse.  A  pleasant 
voice  sounded  in  his  ear. 

"I  think  you  told  me  you  were  going  to  Nash- 
ville."     It  was  Bailie  Peyton  who  spoke. 

"Yes,   sir." 

"It  is  getting  late.  Will  you  not  go  with  me 
to  my  father's  and  stay  all  night,  and  I  will  ride 
with  you  to  Nashville  in  the  morning?" 

Fred  readily  consented,  for  he  was  weary,  and 
he  also  wanted  to  see  more  of  this  wonderful  young 
orator. 


72  GENERAL   NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

Colonel  Peyton,  the  father  of  Bailie  Peyton, 
resided  some  three  miles  out  of  Gallatin  on  the 
Nashville  pike,  and  was  one  of  the  distinguished 
men  of  Tennessee.  He  opposed  secession  to  the 
last,  and  when  the  State  seceded  he  retired  to  his 
plantation,  and  all  during  the  war  was  a  non-com- 
batant. So  grand  was  his  character,  such  confi- 
dence did  both  sides  have  in  his  integrity,  that  he 
was  honored  and  trusted  by  both.  He  never  fal- 
tered in  his  love  for  the  Union,  yet  did  everything 
possible  to  save  his  friends  and  neighbors  from  the 
wrath  of  the  Federal  authorities.  It  was  common 
report  that  more  than  once  he  saved  Gallatin  from 
being  burned  to  the  ground  for  its  many  acts  of 
hostility  to  the  Union  forces.  War  laid  a  heavy 
hand  on  Colonel  Peyton ;  and  his  son  the  apple  of 
his  eye  was  brought  home  a  corpse.  Even  then 
Colonel  Peyton  did  not  complain.  He  bound  up  his 
broken  heart,  and  did  what  he  could  to  soothe 
others  who  had  been  stricken  the  same  as  he. 

Fred  was  given  a  genuine  Southern  welcome  at 
the  hospitable  mansion  of  Colonel  Peyton.  As  for 
Bailie,  the  younger  members  of  the  household  went 
wild  over  him,  even  the  servants  wore  a  happier 
smile  now    "dat  Massa  Bailie  had  cum." 

After  supper  the  family  assembled  on  the  old- 
fashioned  porch  to  enjoy  the  cool  evening  air,  and 
the  conversation,  as  all  conversations  were  in  those 
days,  was  on  the  Avar.  Bailie  was  overflowing  with 
the  exuberance  of  his  spirits.  He  believed  that  the 
victory  at   Bull   Run  was  the  beginning  of  the  end. 


THE    TRIP    TO  NASHVILLE.  73 

that  Washington  was  destined  to  fall,  and  that 
President  Davis  would  dictate  peace  from  that 
city.  He  saw  arise  before  him  a  great  nation,  the 
admiration  of  the  whole  world;  and  as  he  spoke  of 
the  glory  that  would  come  to  the  South,  his  whole 
soul  seemed  to  light  up  his  countenance. 

Throughout  Bailie's  discourse,  Colonel  Peyton 
sat  silent  and  listened.  Sometimes  a  sad  smile 
would  come  over  his  features  at  some  of  his  son's 
witty  sallies  or  extravagant  expressions. 

Bailie  seeing  his  father'  dejection,  turned  to  him 
and  said : 

"Cheer  up,  father;  I  shall  soon  be  back  in  Nash- 
ville practicing  my  profession,  the  war  over;  and 
in  the  greatness  and  grandeur  of  the  South  you  will 
forget  your  love  for  the  old  Union." 

The  colonel  shook  his  head,  and  turning  to 
Fred,  began  to  ask  him  questions  concerning  Ken- 
tucky and  the  situation  there.  Fred  answered  him 
truthfully  and  fully  to  the  best  of  his  knowledge. 
Colonel  Peyton  then  said  to  his  son : 

"Bailie,  you  know  how  dear  you  are  to  me,  and 
how  much  I  regret  the  course  you  are  taking;  yet 
I  will  not  chide  you,  for  it  is  but  natural  for  you 
to  go  with  the  people  you  love.  It  is  not  only 
you,  it  is  the  entire  South  that  has  made  a  terrible 
mistake.  That  the  South  had  grievances,  we  all 
know;  but  secession  was  not  the  cure.  Bailie,  you 
are  mistaken  about  the  war  being  nearly  over;  it 
has  hardly  begun.  If  Beauregard  ever  had  a 
chance  to  capture  Washington,  that  chance  is  now 


74  GENERAL  NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

lost  by  his  tardiness.  The  North  has  men  and 
money;  it  will  spare  neither.  You  have  heard 
what  this  young  man  has  said  about  Kentucky.  He 
has  told  the  truth.  The  State  is  hopelessly  di- 
vided. Neither  side  will  keep  up  the  farce  of  neu- 
trality longer  than  it  thinks  it  an  advantage  to  do 
so.  When  the  time  comes,  the  Federal  armies  will 
sweep  through  Kentucky  and  invade  Tennessee. 
Their  banners  will  be  seen  waving  along  this  road ; 
Nashville  will  fall." 

"What!"    cried    Bailie,    springing    to    his    feet, 

"Nashville    in     the     hands     of    the     Lincolnites. 

Never!      May   I   die  before  I  see  the   accursed  flag 

of  the  North  waving  over  the  proud  capitol  of  my 

beloved  Tennessee." 

He  looked  like  a  young  god,  as  he  stood  there, 
proud,  defiant,  his  eye  flashing,  his  breast  heaving 
with  emotion. 

His  father  gazed  on  him  a  moment  in  silence. 
A  look  of  pride,  love,  tenderness,  passed  over  his 
face;  then  his  eyes  filled  with  tears,  and  he  turned 
away  trembling  with  emotion.  Had  he  a  dim  real- 
ization that  the  prayer  of  his  son  would  be  granted, 
and  that  he  would  not  live  to  see  the  Union  flag 
floating  over  Nashville? 

That  night  Frederic  Shackelford  knelt  by  his 
bedside  with  a  trembling  heart.  Bailie  Peyton's 
speech,  his  enthusiasm,  his  earnestness  had  had  a 
powerful  influence  on  him.  After  all,  was  the 
North  wrong?  Was  the  South  fighting,  as  Bailie 
claimed,   for  one  of  the  holiest  causes  for  which  a 


THE    TRIP    TO  NASHVILLE.  75 

patriotic  people  ever  combated ;  and  that  their 
homes,  the  honor  of  their  wives  and  daughters  were 
at  stake? 

"Oh,  Lord,  show  me  the  right  way!"  was  Fred's 
prayer. 

Then  there  came  to  him,  as  if  whispered  in  his 
ear  by  the  sweetest  of  voices,  the  words  of  his 
mother,  ' '  God  will  never  permit  a  nation  to  be 
founded  whose  chief  corner-stone  is  human  slavery.  ^^ 
He  arose,  strong,  comforted;  the  way  was  clear; 
there  would  be  no  more  doubt. 

The  next  morning  the  young  men  journeyed  to 
Nashville  together.  On  the  way  Bailie  poured  out 
his  whole  soul  to  his  young  companion.  He  saw 
nothing  in  the  future  but  success.  In  no  possible 
way  could  the  North  subjugate  the  South.  But 
the  silver  tones  no  longer  influenced  Fred ;  there 
was  no  more  wavering  in  his  heart.  But  he  ever 
said  that  Bailie  Peyton  was  one  of  the  most  fasci- 
nating young  men  he  ever  met,  and  that  the  remem- 
brance of  that  ride  was  one  of  the  sweetest  of  his 
life. 

When  a  few  months  afterward,  he  wept  over  Pey- 
ton's lifeless  body  stretched  on  the  battlefield,  he 
breathed  a  prayer  for  the  noble  soul  that  had  gone 
so  early  to  its  Creator. 

Fred  found  Nashville  a  seething  sea  of  excite- 
ment. Nothing  was  thought  of,  talked  of,  but  the 
war.  There  was  no  thought  of  the  hardships,  the 
suffering,  the  agony,  the  death  that  it  would  bring 
— nothing   but   vain   boasting,    and   how   soon   the 


76  GENERAL   NELSON'S   SCOUT. 

North  would  get  enough  of  it.  The  people  acted 
as  though  they  were  about  to  engage  in  the  fes- 
tivities of  some  gala  day,  instead  of  one  of  the  most 
gigantic  wars  of  modern  times.  It  was  the  case  of 
not  one,  but  of  a  whole  people  gone  mad. 

Although  Fred's  uncle  and  family  were  greatly 
surprised  to  see  him,  he  was  received  with  open 
arms.  Mr.  Shackelford  was  busily  engaged  in  rais- 
ing a  regiment  for  the  Confederate  service,  and  as 
Bailie  Peyton  had  said,  had  been  commissioned  as 
major.  Fred's  cousin,  George  Shackelford,  al- 
though but  two  years  older  than  he,  was  to  be 
adjutant,  and  Fred  found  the  young  man  a  little 
too  conceited  for  comfort. 

Not  so  with  his  cousin  Kate,  a  most  beautiful 
girl  the  same  age  as  himself,  and  they  were  soon 
the  closest  of  friends.  But  Kate  was  a  terrible  fire- 
eater.  She  fretted  and  pouted  because  Fred  would 
not  abuse  the  Yankees  with  the  same  vehemence 
that  she  did. 

"What  if  they  should  come  here?"  asked 
Fred. 

"Come  here!"  echoed  Kate,  with  the  utmost 
scorn.  "We  women  would  turn  out  and  beat  them 
back  with  broomsticks." 

Fred  laughed,  and  then  little  Bess  came  tod- 
dling up  to  him,  with  "Tousin  Fed,  do  'ankees  eat 
'ittle  girls?" 

"Bless  you,  Bessie,  I  am  afraid  they  would  eat 
you,  you  are  so  sweet,"  cried  Fred,  catching  her 
in  his  arms  and  covering  her  face  with  kisses. 


THE    TRIP    TO  NASHVILLE.  77 

"No  danger,"  tartly  responded  Kate;  "they 
will  never  reach  here  to  get  a  chance." 

"Do  n't  be  too  sure,  my  pretty  cousin;  I  may 
yet  live  to  see  you  flirting  with  a  Yankee  officer." 

"You  will  see  me  dead  first,"  answered  Kate, 
with  flashing  eye. 

It  was  a  very  pleasant  visit  that  Fred  had,  and 
he  was  sorry  when  the  four  days,  the  limit  of  his 
visit,  were  up.  The  papers  that  he  had  brought 
were  all  signed,  and  in  addition  he  took  numerous 
letters  and  messages  back  with  him. 

When  leaving,  his  uncle  handed  him  a  pass 
signed  by  the  Governor  of  the  State. 

"There  will  be  no  getting  through  our  lines  into 
Kentucky  without  this,"  said  his  uncle.  "Ten- 
nessee is  like  a  rat-trap ;  it  is  much  easier  to  get  in 
than  to  get  out." 

Fred  met  with  no  adventure  going  back,  until  he 
approached  the  Kentucky  line  south  of  Scottsville. 
Here  he  found  the  road  strongly  guarded  by  sol- 
diers. 

"Where  are  you  going?"  asked  the  officer  in 
charge. 

"To  my  home  near  Danville,  Kentucky,"  an- 
swered Fred. 

"No,  you  don't,"  said  the  officer;  "we  have 
orders  to  let  no  one  pass." 

"But  I  have  permission  from  the  Governor,"  re- 
plied Fred,  handing  out  his  pass. 

The  officer  looked  at  it  carefully,  then  looked 
Fred   over,  for  he  was  fully   described  in  the  docu- 


78  GENERAL  NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

ment,  and  handed  it  back  with,  "I  reckon  it  's  all 
right;  you  can  go."  And  Fred  was  about  to  ride 
on,  when  a  man  came  running  up  with  a  fearful 
oath,  and  shouting:  "That's  you,  is  it,  my  fine 
gentleman?  Now  you  will  settle  with  Bill  Pearson 
for  striking  him  like  a  nigger!"  and  there  stood  the 
man  he  had  struck  at  Gallatin,  with  the  fiery  red 
mark  still  showing  across  his  face. 

As  quick  as  a  flash  Fred  snatched  a  revolver 
from  the  holster.  "Up  with  your  hands,"  said  he 
coolly  but  firmly.  Pearson  was  taken  by  surprise, 
and  his  hands  went  slowly  up.  The  officer  looked 
from  one  to  the  other,  and  then  asked  what  it 
meant. 

Bill,  in  a  whining  tone,  told  him  how  on  the  day 
he  had  enlisted,  Fred  had  struck  him  "just  like  a 
nigger."  Fred,  in  a  few  words,  told  his  side  of  the 
story. 

"And  Bailie  Peyton  said  ye  were  all  right,  and 
Bill  here  called  ye  a  coward  and  a  liah?"  asked  the 
officer. 

"Yes,  sir." 

"Well,  Bill,  I  reckon  you  got  what  you  de- 
served.    Let  the  gentleman  pass." 

With  a  muttered  curse,  Pearson  fell  back,  and 
Fred  rode  on,  but  had  gone  but  a  few  yards  when 
there  was  the  sharp  report  of  a  pistol,  and  a  ball 
cut  through  his  hat  rim.  He  looked  back  just  in 
time  to  see  Bill  Pearson  felled  like  an  ox  by  a  blow 
from  the  butt  of  a  revolver  in  the  hands  of  the 
angry  officer. 


As  quick  as  a  flash  Fred  snatched  a  Re\()lvei-  from  the  holster. 


THE    TRIP    TO  NASHVILLE.  79 

Once  in  Kentucky  Fred  breathed  freer,  but  he 
was  stopped  several  times  and  closely  questioned, 
and  once  or  twice  the  fleetness  of  his  horse  saved 
him  from  unpleasant  companions.  It  was  with  a  glad 
heart  that  he  found  himself  once  more  at  home. 


CHAPTER    V. 

FATHER   AND   SON. 

FRED'S  journey  to  Nashville  and  back  had 
consumed  eleven  days.  It  was  now  August, 
a  month  of  intense  excitement  throughout  Ken- 
tucky. It  was  a  month  of  plot  and  counterplot. 
The  great  question  as  to  whether  Kentucky  would 
be  Union  or  Confederate  trembled  in  the  balance. 
Fred  found  conditions  changed.  Those  who  had 
been  neutral  were  becoming  outspoken  for  one  side 
or  the  other.  Thus  it  was  with  Mr.  Shackelford. 
He  was  fast  becoming  a  partisan  of  the  South. 
Letters  which  Fred  brought  him  from  his  brother  in 
Nashville  confirmed  him  in  his  opinion.  In  these 
letters  his  brother  begged  him  not  to  disgrace  the 
name  of  Shackelford  by  siding  with  the  Lincolnites. 

He  heard  from  Fred  a  full  account  of  his  jour- 
ney, commended  him  for  his  bravery,  and  said  that 
he  did  what  every  true  Kentuckian  should  do,  re- 
sent an  insult ;  but  he  should  not  have  sent  him 
had  he  known  he  would  have  been  exposed  to  such 
grave  dangers. 

"Now,  Fred,"  he  continued;  "you  and  your 
horse  need  rest.  Do  not  leave  home  for  a  few 
days." 

80 


FATHER  AND   SON.  8 1 

To  this  Fred  readily  assented.  His  cousin  Cal- 
houn came  to  see  him,  and  when  he  told  him  how 
he  had  served  the  fellow  in  Gallatin  who  called  him 
a  liar,  Calhoun's  enthusiasm  knew  no  bounds.  He 
jumped  up  and  down  and  yelled,  and  clapped  Fred 
on  the  back,  and  called  him  a  true  Kentuckian, 
even  if  he  did  n't  favor  the  South. 

"It  seems  to  me,  Fred,  you  are  having  all  the 
fun,  while  I  am  staying  here  humdrumming  around 
home.      I  can't  stand  it  much  longer." 

"It  is  n't  all  fun,  Cal.  I  might  have  been  killed. 
Look  at  that  hole  through  my  hat." 

That  's  what  I  envy,  Fred;  I  must  be  a  soldier. 
I  long  to  hear  the  singing  of  bullets,  the  wild  cheer- 
ing of  men,  to  be  in  the  headlong  charge,"  and  the 
boy's  face  glowed  with  enthusiasm. 

"I  reckon,  Cal,  you  will  get  there,  if  this  racket 
keeps  up  much  longer,  "answered  Fred. 

"Speed  the  day,"  shouted  Cal,  as  he  jumped  on 
his  horse  and  rode  away,  waving  back  a  farewell. 

During  these  days,  Fred  noticed  that  quite  a 
number  of  gentlemen,  all  prominent  Southern  sym- 
pathizers, called  on  his  father.  It  seemed  to  him 
that  his  father  was  drifting  away,  and  that  a  great 
gulf  was  growing  between  them ;  and  he  resolved 
to  open  his  whole  heart  and  tell  his  father  just  how 
he  felt.  The  opportunity  came  sooner  than  he  ex- 
pected. 

One  evening  his  uncle,  Judge  Pennington,  came 
out  from  Danville,  accompanied  by  no  less  distin- 
guished   gentlemen    than   John    C.     Breckinridge, 


83  GENERAL   NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

Humphrey  Marshall,  John  A.  Morgan  and  Major 
Hockoday.  Breckinridge  was  the  idol  of  Ken- 
tucky, a  knightly  man  in  every  respect. 

They  had  come  to  discuss  the  situation  with  Mr. 
Shackelford.  Ten  thousand  rifles  had  been  shipped 
to  Cincinnati,  to  be  forwarded  to  Camp  Dick  Rob- 
inson, for  the  purpose  of  arming  the  troops  there; 
and  the  question  was  should  they  allow  these  arms 
to  be  sent.  The  consultation  was  held  in  the  room 
directly  below  the  one  Fred  occupied,  and  through  a 
friendly  ventilator  he  heard  the  whole  conversation. 

Morgan  and  Major  Hockoday  were  for  calling 
out  the  State  Guards,  capturing  Camp  Dick  Robin- 
son, then  march  on  Frankfort,  drive  out  the  Legisla- 
ture, and  declare  the  State  out  of  the  Union. 

This  was  vigorously  opposed  by  Breckinridge. 
"You  must  remember,"  said  he,  "that  State  sover- 
eignty is  the  underlying  principle  of  the  Southern 
Confederacy.  If  the  States  are  not  sovereign,  the 
South  had  no  right  to  secede,  and  every  man  in 
arms  against  the  Federal  government  is  a  traitor. 
Kentucky,  by  more  than  a  two-thirds  vote,  declined 
to  go  out  of  the  Union.  But  she  has  declared  for 
neutrality;  let  us  see  that  neutrality  is  enforced." 

"Breckinridge,"  said  Morgan,  "your  logic  is 
good,  but  your  position  is  weak.  What  about 
those  arms?" 

"Their  shipment  in  the  State  would  be  a  viola- 
tion of  our  neutrality;  the  whole  power  of  the  State 
should  be  used  to  prevent  it,"  answered  Breckin- 
ridge. 


FATHER  AND   SON.  83 

"Oh!  that  General  Buckner  were  here!"  ex- 
claimed Major  Hockoday.  "Now  that  he  is  gone, 
the  State  Guard  is  virtually  without  a  head." 

"Where  is  General  Buckner?"  asked  Mr.  Shack- 
elford. 

"Hobnobbing  with  President  Lincoln  in  Wash- 
ington, or  with  President  Davis  in  Richmond,  I 
don't  know  which,"  answered  Marshall,  with  a 
laugh. 

"Oh!  Buckner  is  all  right,"  responded  Breckin- 
ridge; "but  he  ought  to  be  here  now." 

It  was  finally  agreed  that  a  meeting  should  be 
called  at  Georgetown,  in  Scott  county,  on  the  17th, 
at  which  meeting  decisive  steps  should  be  taken  to 
prevent  the  shipment  of  the  arms. 

All  of  this  Fred  heard,  and  then,  to  his  conster- 
nation, he  heard  his  father  say: 

"Gentlemen,  before  you  go,  I  want  to  introduce 
my  son  to  you.  I  am  afraid  he  is  a  little  inclined 
to  be  for  the  Union,  and  I  think  a  meeting  with 
you  gentlemen  may  serve  to  make  him  see  things  in 
a  different  light." 

So  Fred  was  called,  and  nerving  himself  for  the 
interview,  he  went  down.  As  he  entered  the  room, 
Major  Hockoday  stared  at  him  a  moment  in  sur- 
prise, and  then  exclaimed : 

"Great  God!  Shackelford,  that  is  not  your  son; 
that  is  the  young  villain  who  stole  my  dispatch  from 
Conway ! ' ' 

"The  very  same,"  said  Fred,  smiling.  "How 
do  you  do,  Major;  I  am  glad  to  see  you  looking  so 


84  GENERAL  NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

well.  I  see  that  the  loss  of  that  dispatch  did  n't 
worry  you  so  much  as  to  make  you  sick." 

"W-h-y  why!"   stammered  the  major,  choking 

with  rage, "you — you   impudent  young "  here 

the  major  did  choke.      He  could  say  no  more. 

Fred  rather  enjoyed  it,  and  he  continued : 
"And  how  is  my  friend  Captain  Conway?  I  trust 
that  he  was  not  injured  in  his  hurried  exit  from  the 
cars  the  other  night." 

All  the  rest  of  the  company  looked  nonplused, 
but  Morgan,  who  roared  with  laughter. 

"What  does  this  mean?"  sternly  asked  Mr. 
Shackelford  of  Fred. 

"It  means,"  answered  Fred,  "that  I  got  the 
major's  dispatches  away  from  Captain  Conway,  and 
thus  saved  Louisville  from  a  scene  of  bloodshed 
and  horror.  And,  Major,  you  should  thank  me,  for 
your  scheme  would  have  failed  anyway.  The 
Union  men  were  too  well  prepared.  I  really  saved 
any  number  of  your  friends  from  being  killed,  and 
there  you  sit  choking  with  rage,  instead  of  calling 
me  a  good  boy." 

"Leave  the  room,  Fred,"  commanded  Mr. 
Shackelford;  "that  you  should  insult  a  guest 
here  in  my  own  house  is  more  than  I  can  imag- 
ine. 

Bowing,  Fred  retired,  and  the  company  turned 
to  Major  Hockoday  for  an  explanation  of  the  ex- 
traordinary scene.  The  major  told  the  story  and 
ended  with  saying:  "I  am  sorry,  Shackelford,  that 
he  is  your  boy.      If  I  were  you,  I  should  get  him 


FATHER  AND  SON.  85 

out    of    the    country   as   soon   as  possible ;   he  will 
make  you  trouble." 

"I  will  settle  with  him,  never  fear,"  replied  Mr. 
Shackelford,  grimly. 

"Look  here.  Major,"  spoke  up  Morgan;  "you 
are  sore  because  that  boy  outwitted  you,  and  he  did 
you  a  good  turn,  as  he  said.  If  your  program  had 
been  carried  out,  Louisville  would  be  occupied  by 
Federal  troops  to-day.  Thank  him  because  he 
pulled  the  wool  over  Conway's  eyes.  Ha!  ha!  two 
old  duffers  fooled  by  a  boy!"  and  Morgan  enjoyed 
a  hearty  laugh,  in  which  all  but  Major  Hockoday 
and  Mr.  Shackelford  joined. 

"And,  Shackelford,"  continued  Morgan,  after 
he  had  enjoyed  his  laugh,  "I  want  you  to  let  that 
boy  alone;  he  is  the  smartest  boy  in  Kentucky.  I 
want  him  with  me  when  I  organize  my  cavalry 
brigade." 

"I  am  afraid,  Morgan,"  said  Breckinridge,  "that 
you  will  be  disappointed  in  that,  though  I  hope  not 
for  Mr.  Shackelford's  sake.  The  boy  looks  to  me 
as  if  he  had  a  will  of  his  own." 

"Oh,  he  will  come  around  all  right,"  responded 
Morgan. 

After  making  full  arrangements  for  the  meeting 
to  be  held  in  Scott  county  on  the  17th,  the  com- 
pany dispersed. 

Hours  after  they  had  gone  Fred  heard  his  father 
restlessly  pacing  the  floor. 

"Poor  father!"  thought  he,  "like  me,  he  cannot 
sleep.      I    wonder   what   he  will  say  to   me   in  the 


86  GENERAL  NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

morning;  but  come  what  may,  I  must  and  shall  be 
for  the  Union." 

At  the  breakfast  table  Mr.  Shackelford  was  silent 
until  the  close  of  the  meal,  when  he  simply  said, 
"Fred,  I  would  like  to  see  you  in  the  library." 

Fred  bowed,  and  replied,  "I  will  be  there  in  a 
few  moments,   father." 

When  Fred  entered  the  library,  his  father  was 
seated  at  the  table  writing.  There  was  a  look  of 
care  on  his  face,  and  Fred  was  startled  to  see  how 
pale  he  was. 

Pushing  aside  his  writing,  he  sat  for  some  mo- 
ments looking  at  his  son  in  silence.  At  last  he 
said: 

"Fred,  you  can  hardly  realize  how  pained  I 
was  last  night  to  hear  what  I  did.  I  would  not 
have  thought  it  of  you.  But  the  past  is  gone. 
You  are  old  enough  to  realize  something  of  the 
desperate  nature  of  the  struggle  in  which  the  two 
sections  of  the  country  are  engaged.  For  the  past 
two  weeks  I  have  thought  much  of  what  was  the 
right  thing  to  do.  I  love  my  country;  I  love  and 
revere  the  old  flag.  As  long  as  the  slightest  hope 
remained  of  restoring  it  as  it  was,  I  was  for  the 
Union.  But  this  is  now  hopeless;  too  much  blood 
has  been  shed.  Neither  would  the  South,  if 
granted  her  own  terms,  now  go  back  to  a  Union 
she  not  only  hates,  but  loathes.  The  North  has 
no  lawful  right  to  use  coercion.  Kentucky,  in  her 
sovereign  right  as  a  State,  has  declared  for  neutral- 
ity;  and  it  has-been  contemptuously  ignored  by  the 


■      FATHER   AND   SON.  87 

North.  Nelson,  a  man  to  be  despised  by  every 
patriot,  has  not  only  organized  troops  in  our  midst, 
but  now  seeks  to  have  the  Federal  government  arm 
them.  Such  true  men  as  Breckinridge,  Marshall, 
Buckner,  Morgan,  and  a  host  of  other  loyal  Ken- 
tuckians  have  sworn  that  this  shall  never  be.  Gen- 
eral Buckner  is  now  in  Washington.  If  he  ascer- 
tains that  the  Lincoln  government  will  not  respect 
the  neutrality  of  the  State  by  withdrawing  every 
Federal  officer  and  soldier,  he  is  going  to  proceed 
to  Richmond  and  offer  his  services  to  the  Confeder- 
ate Government.  Once  accepted,  he  will  immedi- 
ately form  the  State  Guards  into  an  army,  and  turn 
them  over  to  the  Confederacy.  Regiments  must 
be  formed,  and  I  have  been  offered  the  colonelcy 
of  one  of  these  regiments." 

Fred  was  startled,  and  stammered,  "You — 
father — you?" 

"Yes,  my  son,  why  not?  If  your  mother  had 
lived,  it  would  have  been  different,  but  now  I  can 
go  far  better  than  many  who  have  gone.  I  have 
arranged  all  of  my  business.  I  shall  place  Belle  in 
school  in  Cincinnati.  John  Stimson,  who  has  been 
our  overseer  for  so  many  years,  will  remain  and 
conduct  the  plantation.  My  only  trouble  has  been 
to  dispose  of  you  satisfactorily.  My  wish  is  to 
send  you  to  college,  but  knowing  your  adventurous 
disposition,  and  how  fond  you  are  of  exciting  and, 
I  might  add,  desperate  deeds,  I  am  afraid  you 
would  do  no  good  in  your  studies." 


88  GENERAL  NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

"You  are  right,  father,"  said  Fred,  in  a  low 
voice. 

"This  being  the  case,"  continued  Mr.  Shackel- 
ford, "I  was  going  to  offer  to  take  you  with  me  in 
the  army,  not  as  an  enlisted  soldier,  but  rather  as 
company  and  aid  to  me.  But  from  what  I  heard 
last  night,  I  do  not  see  how  this  is  possible,  unless 
what  you  have  done  has  been  a  mere  boyish  freak, 
which  I  do  not  think." 

"It  was  no  freak,"  said  Fred,  with  an  unsteady 
voice. 

"So  I  thought.  Therefore,  the  only  thing  I  can 
do  is  to  send  you  away — to  Europe.  What  do 
you  say,  an  English  or  a  German  university?" 

"And  you  are  really  going  into  the  Confederate 
army,  father?" 

"Yes,  my  son." 

"And  you  want  me  to  play  the  coward  and  flee 
my  country  in  this  her  hour  of  greatest  peril?  Oh, 
father!" 

Mr.  Shackelford  looked  astonished,  and  then  a 
smile  of  joy  passed  over  his  features;  could  it  be 
that  Fred  was  going  with  him  ? 

"Not  if  you  wish  to  go  with  me,  my  son." 

Fred  arose  and  tottered  to  his  father,  sank  be- 
side his  knee,  and  looking  up  with  a  tear-stained 
face,  said  in  a  pleading  voice : 

"Don't  go  into  the  Confederate  army,  father; 
don't  turn  against  the  old  flag."  And  the  boy 
laid  his  head  on  his  father's  knee  and  sobbed  as  if 
his  heart  would  break. 


FATHER  AND  SON.  89 

Mr.  Shackelford  was  deeply  moved.  He  tried 
to  speak,  but  a  lump  arose  in  his  throat  and  choked 
him;  so  he  sat  in  silence  smoothing  the  hair  of  his 
son  with  his  hand  as  gently  as  his  mother  would 
have  done. 

"What  would  mother  say,"  at  length  sobbed 
the  boy. 

Mr.  Shackelford  shivered  as  with  a  chill ;  then 
said  brokenly:  "If  your  mother  had  lived,  child, 
my  first  duty  would  have  been  to  her.  Now  it  is 
to  my  country.  Neither  would  your  mother,  it 
mattered  not  what  she  thought  herself,  ever  have 
asked  me  to  violate  my  own  conscience." 

"Father,  let  us  both  stay  at  home.  We  can  do 
that,  you  thinking  as  you  do,  and  I  thinking  as  I  do. 
We  can  love  each  other  just  the  same.  We  can  do 
good  by  comforting  those  who  will  be  stricken ;  and 
mother  will  look  down  from  heaven,  and  bless  us. 
We  cannot  control  our  sympathies,  but  we  can  our 
actions.     We  can  both  be  truly  non-combatants." 

"Don't,  Fred,  don't  tempt  me,"  gasped  Mr. 
Shackelford.  "My  word  is  given,  and  a  Shackel- 
ford never  breaks  his  word.  Then  I  cannot  stand 
idly  by,  and  see  my  kindred  made  slaves.  I  must 
draw  my  sword  for  the  right,  and  the  South  has  the 
right.  Fred,  the  die  is  cast.  I  go  in  the  Confed- 
erate army — you  to  Europe.      So  say  no  more." 

Fred  arose,  his  face  as  pale  as  death,  but  with  a 
look  so  determined,  so  fixed  that  it  seemed  as  if  in 
a  moment  the  boy  had  been  transformed  into  a 
man. 


90  GENERAL  NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

"Father,"  he  asked,  "I  have  always  been  a 
good  son,  obeying  you,  and  never  intentionally 
grieving  you,  have  I  not?" 

"You  have,  Fred,  been  a  good,  obedient  son, 
God  bless  you !" 

"Just  before  mother  died,"  continued  Fred, 
"she  called  me  to  her  bedside.  She  told  me  how 
my  great-grandfather  had  died  on  Bunker  Hill,  and 
asked  me  to  always  be  true  to  my  country.  She 
asked  me  to  promise  never  to  raise  my  hand  against 
the  flag.  I  gave  her  the  promise.  You  would  not 
have  me  break  that  promise,  father?" 

"No,  no,  my  son!  Go  to  Europe,  stay  there 
until  the  trouble  is  over." 

"She  said  more,  father.  Listen,  for  I  believe 
her  words  to  be  prophetic:  'God  will  never  pros- 
per a  nation  whose  chief  corner-stone  is  human 
slavery.' 

"Stop,  Fred,  stop,  I  can't  bear  it.  Your 
mother  did  not  understand.  This  war  is  not  waged 
to  perpetuate  slavery ;  it  is  waged  to  preserve  the 
rights  of  the  States  guaranteed  to  them  by  the 
Constitution." 

"Do  not  deceive  yourself,  father;  slaveiy  has 
everything  to  do  with  it.  No  State  would  have 
thought  of  seceding  if  it  had  not  been  for  slavery. 
Slavery  is  the  sole,  the  only  cause  of  the  war.  It 
is  a  poor  cause  for  noble  men  to  give  up  their  lives. 

"We  will  not  argue  the  question,"  said  Mr. 
Shackelford,  pettishly;  "you  will  forget  your  fool- 
ishness in  Europe." 


FATHER  AND  SON.  9 1 

"I  shall  not  go  to  Europe." 

"What!" 

"I  shall  not  go  to  Europe." 

"Do  you  dare  to  disobey  me?" 

"I  shall  not  only  not  go  to  Europe,  but  I 
shall  enter  the  army." 

"The  army!  the  army!  What  army?"  asked 
Mr.  Shackelford,  dismayed. 

"The  Union  army." 

The  father  staggered  as  if  a  knife  had  pierced  his 
heart.  He  threw  out  his  hands  wildly,  and  then 
pressed  them  to  his  breast  and  gasped:  "Fred, 
Fred,  you  don't  mean  it!" 

"I  was  never  more  in  earnest  in  my  life." 

Mr.  Shackelford's  feelings  underwent  a  sudden 
change.  His  face  became  purple  with  rage;  love 
for  his  son  was  forgotten. 

"Do  that,"  he  thundered,  "do  that,  and  you  are 
no  son  of  mine.  I  will  disown  you,  I  will  cast  you 
out,  I  will  curse  you." 

"Father,"  said  Fred,  in  a  low  tremulous  voice, 
"if  part  we  must,  do  not  let  us  part  in  anger. 
Never  have  I  loved  you  better  than  now;  you  do 
what  you  believe  to  be  right ;  I  do  what  I  believe 
to  be  right.  We  both  perform  our  duty  as  we  see 
it.  God  will  hold  the  one  who  blunders  blameless. 
Let  us  then  part  in  peace." 

Mr.  Shackelford,  with  white,  drawn  face, 
pointed  to  the  door,  and  uttered  the  one  word, 
"Go!" 

"Oh,  father,  father,  do  not  send  me  away  with 


92  GENERAL   NELSOJSPS   SCOUT. 

a  curse.  See,  father,"  and  he  turned  to  his 
mother's  portrait  which  hung  on  the  wall,  "mother 
is  looking  down  on  us ;  mother,  who  loved  us  both 
so  well.  How  can  you  account  to  her  that  you 
have  turned  away  her  only  son  with  a  curse,  and 
for  no  crime,  but  the  one  of  loving  his  country." 

"Boy,  boy,  have  you  no  mercy  that  you  will  not 
only  break  my  heart,  but  tear  it  out  by  the  roots." 

' '  I  am  the  one  who  asks  for  mercy,  who  pleads 
that  you  send  me  not  away  with  a  curse." 

"Fred,  for  the  sake  of  your  mother,  I  will  not 
curse  you,  but  I  will,  if  you  remain  in  my  sight. 
Here,"  and  he  went  to  his  safe,  opened  it,  and 
took  out  a  package  of  money.  "Here  is  $i,ooo, 
take  it  and  Prince,  and  begone.  Go  to  that  man, 
Nelson,  who  has  seduced  you.  It  is  a  heavy  ac- 
count I  have  to  settle  with  him.  Go  before  I  for- 
get myself  and  curse  you." 

For  a  moment  Fred  gazed  in  his  father's  face; 
there  was  no  wrath,  nothing  but  love  in  his  look. 
Then  he  took  the  money  and  said:  "Father,  I 
thank  you;  I  not  only  thank  you,  but  bless  you. 
May  God  protect  you  in  the  midst  of  dangers. 
Not  a  day  shall  pass  but  I  shall  pray  for  your 
safety.     Good-bye,  father." 

He  turned  and  went  out. 

Mr.  Shackelford  staggered  towards  the  door. 
"Fred!"  It  was  the  cry  of  a  repentant  soul.  The 
boy's  footstep  echoed  outside  along  the  hall,  fainter 
and  fainter. 

The  father  groped  blindly,  as  if  about  to  fall. 


FATHER  AND  SON.  93 

"Fred,  Fred,  come  back!" 

The  outer  door  closed ;  his  boy  was  gone. 

Mr.  Shackelford  staggered  backward  and 
groaned,  as  if  in  mortal  agony.  Then  his  eye 
caught  the  portrait  of  his  wife  looking  down  on  him. 
Raising  his  arms  beseechingly,  he  cried:  "Oh, 
Laura!  Laura!  What  have  I  done?  Don't  look 
at  me  so;  I  didn't  curse  him.  I  would  have 
called  him  back.  My  boy!  my  boy!  Oh,  God! 
Oh,  God!" 

It  was  with  a  heavy  heart  that  Fred  left  the 
house.  As  he  shut  the  door,  he  thought  he  heard 
his  father  call.  He  stopped  and  listened,  but  hear- 
ing nothing,  he  went  on.  Getting  his  horse,  he 
rode  to  Danville.  His  little  sister  was  visiting  at 
Judge  Pennington's,  and  he  wanted  to  see  her,  as 
well  as  to  bid  farewell  to  his  uncle,  and  see  Cal- 
houn. He  had  no  idea  but  that  his  uncle  would 
forbid  him  the  house  when  he  heard  of  his  being 
cast  off  by  his  father. 

He  found  Judge  Pennington  at  home,  and 
frankly  told  him  what  had  happened,  shielding  his 
father  as  much  as  possible,  and  not  sparing  him- 
self. 

The  judge  went  into  a  fearful  passion. 

"Why,  why,  you  young  jackanapes,"  he  roared; 
"it  's  a  horse- whipping  you  want,  and  you  would 
get  it  if  you  were  a  boy  of  mine!  Disowned  you, 
did  he?  And  drove  you  away?  Well,  he  is  a  fool, 
too.  A  good  tanning  is  what  you  need,  and,  by 
Jove!     I   have  a  mind  to  give  it  to  you,"  and  he 


94  GENERAL   NELSON'S   SCOUT. 

shook  his  cane  threateningly.  "Going  to  join  the 
Yankee  army,  are  you  ?  Join  and  be  hanged,  you 
idiot!  A  Shackelford  in  the  Yankee  army!  I  '11, 
I  '11 — "  but  the   judge  was  too  angry  to  say  more. 

"Now,  uncle,  do  n't  get  in  a  rage;  it  's  no  use. 
My  mind  is  fully  made  up.  I  shall  join  the  Union 
army  in  some  capacity." 

"Get  out  of  my  sight,  you  young  idiot,  you!" 
thundered  the  judge. 

Just  then  Calhoun  came  in.  "What  's  the 
row?"  he  asked,  looking  from  one  to  the  other. 

"Row,  row!"  sputtered  the  judge.  "If  you 
were  as  big  a  fool  as  your  cousin  there,  I  would 
skin  you  alive." 

"Glad  you  have  at  last  come  to  a  full  apprecia- 
tion of  my  worth,"  coolly  replied  Calhoun.  "For 
years  I  have  had  the  virtues  of  my  cousin  held  up 
to  me  as  a  shining  mark  to  follow.  Now,  I  find  I 
am  saving  my  skin  by  surpassing  him  in  the  wis- 
dom of  this  world.     Congratulate  me,  dear  father." 

"Why,  this  fool  says  he  is  going  to  enlist  in  the 
Yankee  army,"  foamed  the  Judge,  pointing  at 
Fred. 

"And  this  fool  says  he  is  going  to  enlist  in  the 
Southern  army,"  answered  Calhoun,  pointing  to 
himself. 

The  judge  was  sobered  instantly.  "Calhoun, 
you  do  n't  mean  it?"  he  asked. 

"Yes,  I  do  mean  it,"  stoutly  replied  the  boy. 
"Why  not?  Haven't  you  been  talking  for  years 
of  the  rights  of  the  South?     Are  you   not  doing 


FATHER  AND  SON.  95 

everything  possible  to  take  Kentucky  out  of  the 
Union?  Haven't  you  encouraged  the  enlistment 
of  soldiers  for  the  South?  Then  why  not  I?  Why 
am  I  better  than  others?  Father,  I  do  n't  want  to 
quarrel  with  you  as  Fred  has  with  his  father,  but  I 
am  going  into  the  Southern  army,  and  I  hope  with 
your  blessing." 

The  judge  was  completely  sobered.  Having  his 
son  go  to  war  was  so  much  different  from  having 
some  one  else's  son  go. 

"Do  not  do  anything  rash,  my  son,"  he  said  to 
Calhoun.  "When  the  time  comes  if  you  must  go, 
I  will  see  what  can  be  done  for  you.  As  for  you, 
Fred,"  he  said,  "you  stay  here  with  Calhoun  until 
I  return.  I  am  going  to  see  your  father, ' '  and  call- 
ing for  his  horse,  the  judge  rode  away. 

It  was  afternoon  before  the  judge  came  back. 
Calling  the  boys  into  a  room  for  a  private  interview, 
he  said:  "Fred,  I  have  been  to  see  your  father,  and 
he  is  very  much  chagrined  over  your  disobedience. 
His  fierce  anger  is  gone,  and  in  its  place  a  deep 
sorrow.  He  does  not  ask  you  to  give  up  your  princi- 
ple, but  he  does  ask  that  you  do  not  enter  the  Fed- 
eral army.  You  are  much  too  young,  to  say  nothing 
of  other  considerations.  You  should  accept  his 
proposition  and  go  to  Europe.  We  have  come  to 
this  conclusion,  that  if  you  will  go  I  will  send  Cal- 
houn with  you.  That  will  be  an  even  stand  off. 
Calhoun  wants  to  enter  the  Southern  army,  you 
the  Northern,  so  neither  section  loses  anything. 
You    have   both    done  your  duty  to  your  section, 


gC  GENERAL  NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

and  both  will  have  the  pleasure  and  advantage  of  a 
university  course  in  Europe.  What  do  you  say, 
boys?" 

"That  it  is  a  mean  underhanded  way  to  prevent 
me  from  entering  the  army,"  flared  up  Calhoun. 
"I  hope  Fred  will  not  accept." 

"Be  careful,  boy,"  said  the  judge,  getting  red 
in  the  face.  "You  will  not  find  me  as  lenient  as 
Mr.  Shackelford  has  been  with  Fred.  You  will  go 
where  I  say." 

Calhoun's  temper  was  up,  and  there  would  have 
been  a  scene  right  then  and  there  if  Fred  had  not 
interfered. 

"Uncle,"  said  he,  "there  is  no  use  of  Calhoun 
and  you  disagreeing  over  this  matter.  I  shall  not 
go  to  Europe ;  so  far  as  I  am  concerned,  it  is  set- 
tled. As  for  Calhoun  entering  the  army,  you  must 
settle  that  between  you." 

Calhoun  pressed  Fred's  hand,  and  whispered, 
"Good  for  you,  Fred;  you  have  got  me  out  of  a 
bad  scrape.  I  think  father  will  consent  to  my 
going  in  the  army  now." 

The  judge  stared  at  the  boys,  and  then  sput- 
tered: "Both  of  you  ought  to  be  soundly  thrashed. 
But  if  Fred's  mind  is  made  up,  it  is  no  use  pursuing 
the  matter  further." 

"I  am  firmly  resolved,"  answered  Fred. 

"Then,"  answered  the  judge,  "I  will  say  no 
more,  only,  Fred,  my  house  is  open  to  you.  When 
you   get  sick  of  your  foolish  experiment  you  can 


FATHER  AND  SON.  97 

have  a  home  here.  Your  father  refuses  to  see  you 
unless  you  consent  to  obey." 

"I  thank  you,  uncle,"  said  Fred,  in  a  low  voice, 
"but  I  do  not  think  I  shall  trouble  you  much." 

In  justice  to  Mr.  Shackelford,  it  must  be  said  it 
was  by  his  request  that  Judge  Pennington  made 
this  offer  to  Fred.  Mr.  Shackelford's  heart  had 
softened  towards  his  son,  and  he  did  not  wish  to 
cast  him  off  entirely.  But  the  destiny  of  father 
and  son  was  to  be  more  closely  interwoven  than 
either  thought. 

Fred  remained  at  his  uncle's  until  the  next  day. 
He  and  Calhoun  slept  together  or  rather  occupied 
the  same  bed,  for  they  had  too  much  talking  to  do 
to  sleep.  Both  boys  were  romantic  and  fond  of 
adventure.  Both  longed  for  the  fierce  excitement 
of  war.  They  did  not  talk  as  enemies.  They  did 
not  realize  that  they  might  face  each  other  on  the 
field  of  battle.  They  talked  of  their  oath,  and  again 
promised  to  keep  it  to  the  letter. 

They  were  like  two  brothers,  each  going  on 
a  long  journey  in  different  directions. 

Their  parting  the  next  morning  was  most  affec- 
tionate, and  when  Fred  rode  away  he  turned  his 
horse's  head  in  the  direction  of  Camp  Dick  Robin- 
son. 


CHAPTER   VI. 

THE   FIGHT   FOR   THE   ARMS. 

THE  soldiers  that  Nelson  had  gathered  at  Camp 
Dick  Robinson  were  a  nondescript  set,  not 
only  in  clothing,  but  in  arms.  Squirrel  rifles  and 
shotguns  were  the  principal  weapons.  When  he 
first  began  organizing  his  troops,  Nelson  had 
ordered  guns  and  ammunition  from  the  Federal  gov- 
ernment, and  his  impetuous  spirit  chafed  at  their 
non-arrival.  Consequently  he  was  not  in  the  best 
of  humor,  and  was  mentally  cursing  the  government 
for  its  exceeding  slowness  when  Fred  rode  up  to  his 
headquarters. 

Fred's  ride  had  been  anything  but  a  pleasant 
one.  That  he  had  taken  a  desperate  step  for  a  boy 
of  his  age,  he  well  knew.  He  passionately  loved 
his  father,  and  the  thought  that  he  had  been  dis- 
owned for  disobedience  was  a  bitter  one.  He 
strove  to  fight  back  the  lump  that  would  rise  in 
his  throat;  and  in  spite  of  all  his  efforts  to  keep 
them  back,  the  tears  would  well  up  in  his  eyes. 
But  he  never  faltered  in  his  determination.  He 
had  given  himself,  heart  and  soul,  to  the  cause  of 
the  Union,  and  had  no  thought  of  turning  back. 
Even  if  Nelson  did  not  receive  him,  if  it  came  to  the 


THE  FIGHT  FOR    THE  ARMS.  99 

worst  he  would  enlist  as  a  private  soldier.  Serve 
the  Union  he  would. 

"A  boy  to  see  me,"  snapped  Nelson,  when  an 
orderly  reported  that  a  boy  was  outside  and  wished 
to  see  him.      "Tell  him  to  go  to  the ." 

The  orderly  reported  to  Fred  Nelson's  kind 
wish. 

"Tell  him,"  replied  Fred,  rather  indignantly, 
"that  Fred  Shackelford  wishes  to  see  him." 

The  orderly  soon  returned,  and  ushered  Fred 
into  the  presence  of  the  irate  officer. 

"It  is  you,  Fred,  is  it?"  said  Nelson,  as  our 
hero  entered  and  saluted  him.  "I  am  sorry  I  told 
you  to  go  where  I  did,  but  the  truth  is  I  am  out  of 
sorts.      Have  you  any  news  to  cheer  me  up?" 

"News,  General,  yes;  and  quite  important,  if 
you  do  not  already  know  it.  But  first,"  continued 
Fred,  glancing  at  the  star  which  glistened  on  Nel- 
son's shoulder,  "let  me  congratulate  you.  I  see 
you  are  no  longer  Lieutenant  Nelson  of  the  navy, 
but  General  Nelson  of  the  army." 

"Yes,"  replied  Nelson,  with  a  twinkle  in  his  eye, 
"I  now  command  on  land;  so,  young  man,  be  care- 
ful how  you  try  to  ride  over  me." 

Fred  laughed  as  he  thought  of  his  first  meeting 
with  Nelson,  and  replied:  "I  shall  never  so  forget 
myself  again.  General." 

"Now,"  continued  Nelson,  "give  me  the  news. 
You  said  you  had  something  important  to  commu- 
nicate." 

"So  I  have   if    you   are  not  already   informed. 


lOO  GENERAL   NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

You    are    expecting    arms   for  your  men,   are  you 
not?" 

"I  am,  and  I  am  all  out  of  patience  because  I 
do  not  receive  them.  They  should  have  been  here 
days  ago.      But  what  do  you  know  about  this?" 

"I  know  that  you  will  never  receive  them,  if 
the  friends  of  the  South  can  prevent  it;  and  that 
they  are  taking  active  measures  to  do." 

"Tell  me  all  about  it,"  said  Nelson,  manifesting 
the  greatest  interest. 

Fred  then  related  all  that  he  had  heard  at  the 
meeting  which  took    place   at   his   father's   house. 
Nelson's   face   grew   very   grave.     Then  he  asked, 
"Where  did  you  learn  of  all  this?" 

"Please  do  not  ask  me,"  replied  Fred,  in  a  low 
voice.  "I  can  only  say  the  information  is  abso- 
lutely correct." 

"Never  mind,"  said  Nelson,  kindly.  "I  think 
I  understand.  Your  news  is,  indeed,  important. 
The  enemy  must  have  spies  watching  every  move- 
ment. You  have  again  rendered  me  important  ser- 
vice, Fred.  How  I  wish  you  could  take  up  with 
that  offer  I  made  you." 

"That  is  what  I  have  come  for,  General,  if  you 
will  accept  my  poor  services." 

"What!  has  your  father  consented?"  asked  Nel- 
son, in  surprise. 

Fred  colored,  and  then  replied:  "I  have  no 
home;  my  father  has  cast  me  out." 

"For  what?" 

"I   had    my   choice  to    accompany  him   in   the 


THE  FIGHT  FOR    THE  ARMS.  lOl 

Confederate  army  or  to  go  to  Europe  to  attend 
some  university.      I  refused  to  do  either," 

Nelson  knitted  his  brows  a  moment  as  if  in 
thought,  and  then  replied:  "You  were  certainly 
right  in  refusing  the  first ;  I  wonder  at  your  father 
making  you  the  proposition.  The  last  was  a  very 
reasonable  proposition,  and  a  wise  one.  You 
should  have  accepted  it.  I  am  afraid  I  am  to  blame 
for  your  folly — for  such  it  is.  The  offer  I  made 
you  appealed  to  your  boyish  imagination  and  love 
of  adventure,  and  caused  you  to  go  against  the 
wishes  of  your  father.  Four  or  five  years  at  some 
foreign  university  is  a  chance  not  to  be  idly  thrown 
away,  to  say  nothing  about  obeying  the  wishes  of 
your  father.  As  much  as  I  would  like  your  ser- 
vices, Fred,  be  reconciled  to  your  father;  go  to 
Europe,  and  keep  out  of  this  infernal  war.  It  will 
cost  the  lives  of  thousands  of  just  such  noble  youths 
as  you  before  it  ends;  and,"  he  continued,  with  a 
tinge  of  sadness  in  his  tone,  "I  sometimes  think  I 
shall  never  live  to  see  it  end.  I  am  surrounded  by 
hundreds  of  enemies  who  are  hungering  for  my 
life." 

"Your  advice,  General,  is  most  kindly  given," 
answered  Fred,  "and  I  sincerely  thank  you  for 
what  you  have  said ;  but  it  is  impossible  for  me  to 
accept  it.  It  is  all  over  between  father  and  myself. 
He  gave  me  $i,ooo  and  my  horse,  and  told  me  to 
go  my  way.  I  love  my  father,  but  if  I  should  now 
go  back  after  what  has  passed,  he  would  despise 
me,  as  I  would  despise  myself.      Father  is  the  soul 


I02  GENERAL   NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

of  honor;  if  I  should  play  the  craven  after  all 
that  I  have  said,  he  would  not  only  despise,  but 
loathe  me.  Now  I  can  hope  that  time  may  once 
more  unite  us.  Be  assured  that  though  his  heart 
may  be  filled  with  anger  towards  me  now,  if  I 
prove  myself  worthy,  he  will  yet  be  proud  of  his 
son." 

Nelson's  heart  was  touched.  He  grasped  Fred's 
hand,  and  exclaimed  with  much  feeling:  "You 
must  have  a  noble  father,  or  he  could  not  have  such 
a  son.  Yes,  Fred,  I  will  take  you.  Consider 
yourself  attached  to  my  staff  as  confidential  scout 
and  messenger.  I  do  not  wish  you  to  enlist ;  you 
will  be  more  free  to  act  if  you  are  not  an  enlisted 
soldier." 

Fred  warmly  thanked  the  general  for  his  expres- 
sion of  confidence,  and  announced  himself  as  ready 
for  orders. 

Nelson  smiled  at  his  ardor,  and  then  said:  "I 
believe  you  stated  that  that  meeting  is  to  take  place 
in  Scott  county  the  17th?" 

"Yes,  sir." 

"This  is  the  14th.  You  can  make  it  all  right. 
How  would  you  like  to  go  there,  and  see  what  you 
can  learn?" 

Fred's  eyes  kindled.  "I  can  make  it  all  right, 
but  I  am  afraid  some  of  them  may  know  me." 

"We  will  fix  that  all  right,"  responded  Nelson. 

The  next  morning,  a  boy  with  jet  black  hair  and 
hands  and  face  stained  brown  rode  away  from  Gen- 
eral Nelson's  headquarters.      It  would  have  been  a 


THE  FIGHT  FOR    THE  ARMS.  103 

close  observer  indeed  that  would  have  taken  that 
boy  for  Fred  Shackelford. 

It  was  on  the  evening  of  the  i6th  that  Fred 
reached  Georgetown.  He  found  the  little  city  full 
of  excited  partisans  of  the  South.  At  the  meeting 
the  next  day  many  fierce  speeches  were  made.  The 
extremists  were  for  at  once  calling  out  the  State 
Guards,  and  marching  on  Camp  Dick  Robinson, 
and  capturing  it  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet.  But 
more  pacific  advice  prevailed.  Governor  Magoffin 
was  instructed  to  protest  in  the  strongest  language 
to  President  Lincoln,  and  to  call  on  him  at  once 
to  disband  the  troops  at  Dick  Robinson.  As  for 
allowing  the  arms  to  be  shipped,  it  was  resolved 
that  it  should  be  prevented  at  all  hazards. 

When  Fred  arrived  at  Georgetown,  he  found  at 
the  hotel  that  he  could  procure  a  room  next  to  the 
one  occupied  by  Major  Hockoday,  and  believing 
that  the  major's  room  might  be  used  for  secret  con- 
sultations of  the  more  violent  partisans  of  the 
South,  he  engaged  it,  hoping  that  in  some  manner 
he  might  become  possessed  of  some  of  their  secrets. 
While  the  room  engaged  by  Major  Hockoday  was 
unoccupied  he  deftly  made  a  hole  through  the 
plastering  in  his  room,  and  then  with  the  aid  of  a 
sharpened  stick  made  a  very  small  opening  through 
the  plastering  into  the  next  room.  He  then  rolled 
up  a  sheet  of  paper  in  the  shape  of  a  trumpet.  By 
placing  the  small  end  of  the  paper  in  the  small 
opening,  and  putting  his  ear  to  the  larger  end,  he 
was  enabled  to  hear  much  that  was  said,  especially 


I04  GENERAL   NELSOJSTS  SCOUT. 

if  everything  was  still  and  the  conversation  was 
animated.  The  result  exceeded  his  most  sanguine 
expectations.  After  the  close  of  the  public  meet- 
ing, a  number  of  the  more  prominent  actors  gath- 
ered in  Major  Hockoday's  room. 

A  heated  discussion  arose  as  to  how  Kentucky 
could  the  most  quickly  throw  off  her  neutrality,  and 
join  her  fortune  to  that  of  the  Confederacy. 

"Gentlemen,"  said  Major  Hockoday,  "I  believe 
every  one  present  is  a  true  son  of  the  South,  there- 
fore I  can  speak  to  you  freely.  The  first  thing,  as 
we  all  agree,  is  to  prevent  the  shipment  of  these 
arms.  Then  if  Lincoln  refuses  to  disband  the 
troops  at  Dick  Robinson,  the  program  is  this:  You 
all  know  that  General  Buckner  has  been  in  Wash- 
ington for  some  time  talking  neutrality.  In  a  meas- 
ure he  has  gained  the  confidence  of  Lincoln,  and 
has  nearly  received  the  promise  that  no  Federal 
troops  from  other  States  will  be  ordered  into 
the  State  as  long  as  the  Confederate  troops  keep 
out.  Buckner  has  secretly  gone  to  Richmond, 
where  he  will  accept  a  commission  from  the  Confed- 
erate government.  He  will  then  come  back  by 
way  of  the  South,  and  issue  a  proclamation  to  loyal 
Kentuckians  to  join  his  standard.  The  State  Guards 
should  join  him  to  a  man.  Then,  if  Lincoln  refuses 
to  disband  the  soldiers  at  Dick  Robinson,  the  Con- 
federate government  will  occupy  the  State  with 
troops,  claiming  and  justly,  too,  that  the  Federal 
government  has  not  respected  the  neutrality  of  the 
State.     The  coming  of  the  Confederate  troops  will 


THE  FIGHT  FOR    THE  ARMS.  105 

fire  the  heart  of  every  true  Kentuckian,  and  all 
over  the  State  Confederates  will  spring  to  arms,  and 
the  half-armed  ragamufifins  of  Nelson  will  be  scat- 
tered like  a  flock  of  sheep.  By  a  dash  Louisville 
can  be  occupied,  and  Kentucky  will  be  where  she 
belongs — in  the  Southern  Confederacy.  What 
think  you,  gentlemen,  of  the  program?" 

A  wild  cheer  burst  from  those  present.  Strong 
men  embraced  each  other  with  tears  streaming 
down  their  cheeks.  They  believed  with  their  whole 
hearts  and  souls  that  the  South  was  right,  and  that 
Kentucky's  place  was  with  her  Southern  sisters, 
and  now  that  there  seemed  to  be  a  possibility  of 
this,  their  enthusiasm  knew  no  bounds. 

As  for  Fred,  he  drew  a  long  breath.  He  knew 
that  he  had  gained  information  of  the  greatest  value 
to  the  Federal  cause. 

"It  is  time  for  me  to  be  going,"  he  said  to  him- 
self. "Nelson  must  know  of  this  as  soon  as  pos- 
sible." 

As  he  passed  out  of  the  room,  he  came  face  to 
face  with  Major  Hockoday. 

The  major  stared  at  him  a  moment,  and  then 
roughly  asked:  "What  is  your  name,  and  what 
are  you  doing  here?" 

"I  see  no  reason  why  I  should  report  to  you," 
replied  Fred.  "I  am  a  guest  at  this  hotel,  and  am 
minding  my  own  business.  I  wish  I  could  say  as 
much  for  you,"  and  he  walked  away. 

The  major  looked  after  him,  his  face  red  with 
anger,  and  muttered:     "Strange!   but   if  that   boy 


io6  GENERAL   NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

did  n't  have  black  hair  and  was  not  dark,  I  should 
swear  it  was  Fred  Shackelford.  I  must  find  out 
more  about  him." 

But  a  gentleman  came  along  just  then  and  en- 
gaged him  in  conversation.  As  soon  as  he  could 
disengage  himself,  the  major  examined  the  hotel 
register  to  find  who  occupied  room  13.  Opposite 
that  number  he  found  written  in  a  bold,  boyish 
hand : 

"  F.  Carrington      ....      Louisville." 

Fred's  full  name  was  Fred  Carrington  Shackel- 
ford, and  he  had  registered  his  given  names  only. 
Major  Hockoday  made  careful  inquiry  about  the 
boy,  but  no  one  knew  him.  He  had  paid  his  bill, 
called  for  his  horse,  and  rode  away.  More  the  peo- 
ple could  not  tell.  Major  Hockoday  was  troubled, 
why  he  hardly  knew ;  but  somehow  he  felt  as  if  the 
presence  of  that  black-haired  boy  boded  no  good  to 
their  cause. 

All  of  this  time  Fred  was  riding  swiftly  towards 
Lexington. 

General  Nelson  listened  to  his  report  not  only 
with  attention,  but  with  astonishment. 

"Fred,"  said  he,  "you  are  a  marvel;  you  are 
worth  a  brigade  of  soldiers.  I  have  been  reporting 
all  the  time  to  the  authorities  at  Washington  that 
Buckner  was  heart  and  soul  with  the  South ;  but 
they  would  n't  believe  me.  Neither  will  they  be- 
lieve me  now,  but  I  can  act  on  your  information." 

"Fred,"  continued  the  general,  walking  rapidly 
up  and   down  the  room,  "I   sometimes  think  there 


THE  FIGHT  FOR    THE  ARMS.  107 

is  a  set  of  dunderheads  at  Washington,  They  think 
they  know  everything,  and  do  n't  know  anything. 
If  Kentucky  is  saved,  it  will  be  saved  by  the  loyal 
men  of  the  State.  Just  think  of  their  listening  to 
Buckner  instead  of  me,"  and  the  general  worked 
himself  into  a  violent  rage,  and  it  took  him  some 
time  to  cool  ofT.  Then  he  said:  "I  will  try  once 
more  to  hurry  up  those  arms.  I  will  send  you  to- 
morrow to  Cincinnati  as  a  special  messenger.  I  will 
write  what  you  have  told  me,  and  I  want  you  to 
impress  it  on  General  Anderson's  mind.  Tell  him 
to  hurry,  hurry,  or  it  will  be  too  late." 

The  next  morning  Fred  was  on  his  way  back  to 
Nicholasville.  From  there  he  took  the  train  for 
Cincinnati,  at  which  place  he  arrived  in  due  time. 
He  delivered  his  dispatches  to  General  Anderson, 
who,  after  reading  them,  looked  at  him  kindly  and 
said: 

"General  Nelson  sends  a  young  messenger,  but 
he  tells  me  of  the  great  service  you  have  performed 
and  the  valuable  information  you  have  gathered. 
It  is  certainly  wonderful  for  so  young  a  boy.  Tell 
me  more  about  it." 

Fred  modestly  related  what  had  occurred  at 
Georgetown. 

General  Anderson  listened  attentively,  and  when 
Fred  had  finished,  said:  "You  certainly  deserve 
the  credit  General  Nelson  has  given  you.  The 
information  you  received  is  of  the  greatest  impor- 
tance, and  will  be  at  once  forwarded  to  Washington. 
In   the   mean   time,  we  must  do    the    best   we   can. 


Io8  GENERAL   NELSON'S   SCOUT. 

General  Nelson  may  think  I  am  slow,  but  there  is 
so  much  to  do — so  much  to  do,  and  so  little  to  do 
with,"  and  the  general  sighed.  Fred  observed  him 
with  interest,  for  he  realized  that  he  was  talking  to 
the  hero  who  had  defended  Fort  Sumter  to  the  last. 

The  general  was  broken  in  health,  and  looked 
sick  and  careworn,  and  not  the  man  to  assume  the 
great  burden  he  was  bearing.  It  was  with  joy  that 
Fred  heard  that  the  arms  would  be  shipped  in  a 
day  or  two.  But  when  the  train  carrying  them 
was  ready  to  start,  Fred  saw,  to  his  amazement, 
that  it  was  not  to  be  guarded. 

"That  train  will  never  get  through,"  he 
thought.      "It  is  funny  how  they  do  things." 

Fred  was  right ;  the  enemies  of  the  government 
were  not  idle.  Spies  were  all  around,  and  they  knew 
when  the  train  was  to  start  to  a  minute,  and  the 
news  was  flashed  ahead.  At  a  small  station  in 
Harrison  county  the  train  was  stopped  by  a  large 
mob,  who  tore  up  the  track  in  front,  making  it  im- 
possible for  it  to  proceed.  There  was  nothing  to 
do  but  to  take  the  train  back  to  Cincinnati,  and 
with  it  a  communication  to  the  ofificials  of  the  road 
that  if  they  attempted  to  run  the  train  again  the 
whole  track  would  be  torn  up  from  Covington  to 
Lexington. 

The  railway  of^cials,  thoroughly  frightened, 
begged  General  Anderson  not  to  attempt  to  run 
the  train  again.  The  Southern  sympathizers  were 
jubilant  over  their  success,  and  boldly  declared  the 
arms  would  never  be  shipped. 


THE  FIGHT  FOR    THE  ARMS.  109 

As  for  Fred,  he  was  completely  disgusted,  and 
expressed  himself  so. 

"Well,  my  boy,  what  would  you  do?"  asked 
General  Anderson,  smiling. 

"Do!  do!"  answered  Fred,  excitedly.  "I 
would  send  a  regiment  and  a  battery  on  a  train 
ahead  of  the  one  carrying  the  arms,  and  if  the  mob 
interfered  I  would  sweep  them  from  the  face  of 
the  earth." 

"Well  said,  my  lad,"  replied  Anderson,  his  face 
lighting  up  and  his  eyes  kindling.  "I  feel  that 
way  myself,  but  a  soldier  must  obey  orders,  and 
unfortunately  I  have  different  orders." 

"What  is  the  next  move?"  asked  Fred. 

"I  have  orders  to  load  them  on  a  steamboat, 
and  send  them  up  the  Kentucky  River  to  Hickman 
Bridge." 

Fred  looked  his  disgust. 

"You   don't    seem   pleased,"    said  the  general. 

"Pleased!"  blurted  out  Fred;  "excuse  me, 
General,  but  it  is  all  foolishness.  Have  I  not  heard 
those  fellows  plotting?  The  boat  will  be  stopped 
the  same  as  the  train." 

The  general  turned  away,  but  Fred  heard  him 
say,  as  if  to  himself:  "I  am  afraid  it  will  be  so, 
but  the  government  persists  in  tying  our  hands  as 
far  as  Kentucky  is  concerned." 

General  Anderson's  position  was  certainly  an 
anomalous  one — the  commander  of  a  department, 
and  yet  not  allowed  to  move  troops  into  it. 

According  to  his  orders,  Fred  took  passage  on 


no       GENERAL   NELSON'S   SCOUT. 

the  boat  with  the  arms,  but  he  felt  it  would  never 
be  permitted  to  reach  its  destination.  His  fears 
proved  only  too  true.  When  the  boat  reached  the 
confines  of  Owen  county  they  found  a  great  mob 
congregated  on  the  banks  of  the  river. 

"Turn  back!  turn  back!"  was  the  cry,  "or  we 
will  burn  the  boat."  The  captain  tried  to  parley, 
but  he  was  met  with  curses  and  jeers. 

Fred  went  on  shore,  and  mingling  with  the  mob, 
soon  learned  there  was  a  conspiracy  on  the  part  of 
the  more  daring  to  burn  the  boat,  even  if  it  did 
turn  back.  Hurrying  on  board,  Fred  told  the  cap- 
tain his  only  salvation  was  to  turn  back  at  once, 
and  to  put  on  all  steam.  He  did  so,  and  the  boat 
and  cargo  were  saved. 

Once  more  the  Confederate  sympathizers  went 
wild  with  rejoicing,  and  the  Union  men  were  cor- 
respondingly depressed. 

But  the  boat  made  an  unexpected  move,  as  far 
as  the  enemy  were  concerned.  Instead  of  proceed- 
ing back  to  Cincinnati,  it  turned  down  the  Ohio  to 
Louisville.  Here  the  arms  were  hastily  loaded  on 
the  cars,  and  started  for  Lexington.  Fred  was 
hurried  on  ahead  to  apprise  General  Nelson  of  their 
coming.  Fred  delivered  his  message  to  the  general, 
and  then  said:  "The  train  will  never  get  through; 
it  will  be  stopped  at  Lexington,  if  not  before." 

"If  the  train  ever  reaches  Lexington  I  will  have 
the  arms,"  grimly  replied  Nelson.  "Lexington  is 
in  my  jurisdiction;  there  will  be  no  fooling,  no  par- 
leying with  traitors,  if  the  train  reaches  that  city." 


THE  FIGHT  FOR    THE  ARMS.  m 

Then  he  turned  to  Colonel  Thomas  E.  Bram- 
lette,  and  said:  "Colonel,  take  a  squadron  of  cav- 
alry, proceed  to  Lexington,  and  when  that  train 
comes,  take  charge  of  it  and  guard  it  to  Nicholas- 
ville.  I  will  have  wagons  there  to  transport  the 
arms  here." 

Colonel  Bramlette  saluted,  and  replied:  "Gen- 
eral, I  will  return  with  those  arms  or  not  at  all." 

The  general  smiled;  he  understood. 
"May  I  accompany  the  colonel?"  asked  Fred. 

"Certainly,  if  you  wish,"  answered  Nelson. 
"You  have  stayed  by  the  arms  so  far,  and  it  is  no 
more  than  right  that  you  should  be  in  at  the  finish." 

The  enemy  was  alert,  and  the  news  reached 
Lexington  that  the  train  loaded  with  the  arms  and 
ammunition  for  the  soldiers  at  Dick  Robinson  was 
coming. 

Instantly  the  little  city  was  aflame  with  excite- 
ment. The  State  Guards  under  the  command  of 
John  H.  Morgan  gathered  at  their  armory  with  the 
avowed  intention  of  seizing  the  train  by  force. 
John  C.  Breckinridge  made  a  speech  to  the  excited 
citizens,  saying  the  train  must  be  stopped,  if  blood 
flowed. 

In  the  midst  of  this  excitement  Colonel  Bram- 
lette with  his  cavalry  arrived.  This  added  fuel  to 
the  already  intense  excitement. 

"Drive  the  Lincoln  hirelings  from  the  city!" 
shouted  Breckinridge,  and  the  excited  crowd  took 
up  the  cry. 

A   demand    was   at    once    drawn    up,  signed  by 


112  GENERAL   NELSON'S   SCOUT. 

Breckinridge,  Morgan  and  many  others,  and  sent 
to  Colonel  Bramlette,  requesting  him  to  at  once 
withdraw  from  the  city,  or  blood  would  be  shed. 

Colonel  Bramlette's  lips  curled  in  scorn  as  he 
read  the  demand,  and  turning  to  the  messenger 
who  brought  it,  said:  "Go  tell  the  gentlemen  they 
shall  have  my  answer  shortly." 

Writing  an  answer,  he  turned  to  Fred,  saying: 
"Here,  my  boy,  for  what  you  have  done,  you  richly 
deserve  the  honor  of  delivering  this  message," 

Right  proudly  did  Fred  bear  himself  as  he  deliv- 
ered his  message  to  Breckinridge.  Major  Hocko- 
day,  who  was  standing  by  Breckinridge,  scowled 
and  muttered,  "It  's  that Shackelford  boy." 

Captain  Conway  heard  him,  and  seeing  Fred, 
with  a  fearful  oath,  sprang  towards  him  with 
uplifted  hand.  He  had  not  seen  Fred  since  that 
night  he  plunged  from  the  train.  His  adventure 
had  become  known,  and  he  had  to  submit  to  any 
amount  of  chaffing  at  being  outwitted  by  a  boy ; 
and  his  brother  officers  took  great  delight  in  calling 
out:  "Look  out,  Conway,  here  comes  that  de- 
tective from  Danville!" 

This  made  Captain  Conway  hate  Fred  with  all 
the  ardor  of  his  small  soul,  and  seeing  the  boy, 
made  him  so  forget  himself  as  to  attack  him. 

But   a  revolver  flashed   in   his   face,   and  a  firm 
voice  said:     "Not  so  fast.  Captain." 

The  irate  captain  was  seized  and  dragged  away, 
and  when  the  tumult  had  subsided  Breckinridge 
said:     "I   am   sorry   to  see  the  son  of  my  friend, 


THE  FIGHT  FOR    THE  ARMS.  113 

Colonel  Shackelford,  engaged  in  such  business; 
but  it  is  the  message  that  he  brings  that  concerns 
us." 

He  then  read  the  following  laconic  note  from 
Colonel  Bramlette: 

Lexington,  Aug.  — ,  1861. 
To   Hon.    John  C.  Breckinridge,  John  H.  Morgan  and 
Others. 
Gentlemen: — I  shall   take   those   arms,  and  if   a  drop   of 
Union  blood  be  shed,  I  will  not  leave  a  single  Secessionist  alive 
in  Lexington.  Thomas  E.  Bramlette, 

Colonel  Commanding. 

There  was  a  breathless  silence;  faces  of  brave 
men  grew  pale.  There  were  oaths  and  muttered 
curses,  but  the  mob  began  to  melt  away.  The  vic- 
tory was  won. 

The  train  arrived,  and  Colonel  Bramlette  took 
charge  of  it  without  trouble.  Just  as  the  troop  of 
cavalry  was  leaving  Lexington,  a  boy  came  out 
and  thrust  a  note  into  Fred's  hand.  He  opened  it 
and  read : 

To  Fred  Shackelford: 

Boy  as  you  are,  I  propose  to  shoot  you  on  sight,  so  be  on 
your  guard.  Capt.  P.  C.  Conway. 

Fred  smiled,  and  handed  the  note  to  Colonel 
Bramlette,  who  read  it  and  said:  "Fred,  you  will 
have  to  look  out  for  that  fellow." 

The  journey  back  to  Dick  Robinson  was  without 
incident.  The  long  looked  for  arms  and  ammuni- 
tion had  come.  What  rejoicing  there  was!  What 
wild  hurrahs!  Plenty  of  arms  and  ammunition! 
It   meant   everything   to  those  men  surrounded  as 


114  GENERAL   NELSON'S   SCOUT. 

they  were  with  enemies  on  every  side.  In  the 
midst  of  the  rejoicing,  Fred  was  not  forgotten.  He 
and  Colonel  Bramlette  were  the  heroes  of  the  hour. 
The  fight  for  the  possession  of  the  arms  was  over. 
General  Nelson  had  won. 


CHAPTER   VII. 

THE    FOILING   OF   A   PLOT. 

CAMP  DICK  ROBINSON  was  all  excitement. 
General  Nelson,  the  man  of  iron  nerve,  who, 
in  the  face  of  opposition  from  friends,  the  most 
direful  threats  from  foes,  saved  Central  Kentucky 
to  the  Union,  had  been  relieved  of  his  command 
and  assigned  to  another  field  of  labor.  The  new 
commander  to  take  his  place  was  General  George 
H.  Thomas. 

To  Fred  the  news  that  his  general,  as  he  had 
come  to  look  upon  Nelson,  had  been  assigned  to 
another  command,  was  anything  but  pleasing. 
''But  where  Nelson  goes,  there  will  I  go,"  was  his 
thought.  "After  all,"  he  said,  bitterly,  "what 
does  it  matter  where  I  go.  I  am  homeless  and  an 
outcast." 

General  Thomas,  like  Nelson,  was  a  heavy, 
thickset  man,  but  there  the  likeness  ended.  Thomas 
never  lost  his  temper,  he  never  swore,  he  never 
complained,  he  never  got  excited.  He  was  always 
cool  and  collected,  even  under  the  most  trying  cir- 
cumstances. He  afterwards  became  known  to  his 
soldiers  as  "Pap  Thomas,"  and  was  sometimes 
called  "Slow-Trot  Thomas,"  for  the  reason  he  was 

"5 


Il6  GENERAL   NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

never  known  to  ride  his  horse  off  a  trot,  even  in  the 
most  desperate  battle. 

When  General  Thomas  reported  to  Camp  Dick 
Robinson  he  and  Nelson  held  a  long  consultation. 
Finally  Fred  was  called  into  their  presence. 

"This,  General,  is  Fred  Shackelford,  the  boy  of 
whom  I  spoke,"  said  Nelson. 

Fred  saluted  the  new  commander,  and  then  re- 
spectfully remained  standing,  awaiting  orders. 

"Fred,"  continued  General  Nelson,  "General 
Thomas  and  I  have  been  discussing  you,  and  I  have 
been  telling  him  how  valuable  your  services  have 
been.  I  fully  expected  to  take  you  with  me  to  my 
new  command,  but  both  General  Thomas  and  myself 
feel  that  just  at  present  your  services  are  very  much 
needed  here.  This  camp  is  very  important,  and  it 
is  surrounded  with  so  many  dangers  that  we  need 
to  take  every  precaution.  You  are  not  only  well 
acquainted  with  the  country,  but  you  seem  to  have 
a  peculiar  way  of  getting  at  the  enemy's  secrets  no 
other  one  possesses.  There  is  no  doubt  but  you 
are  needed  here  more  than  at  Maysville,  where  I 
am  going.  But  we  have  concluded  to  leave  it  to 
you,  whether  you  go  or  stay.  You  may  be  sure  I 
shall  be  pleased  to  have  you  go  with  me.  What 
do  you  say,  Fred?" 

Fred  looked  at  General  Thomas,  and  thought  he 

had    never   seen   a  finer,  grander  face;   but  he  had 

grown  very  fond  of  the  fiery  Nelson,  so  he  replied: 

"General  Nelson,  you  know  my  feelings  towards 

you.      I  appreciate  your  kindness.      If  I  consulted 


THE  FOILING   OF  A   PLOT.  117 

simply  my  own  wishes  I  should  go  with  you.  But 
you  have  pointed  out  to  me  my  duty.  I  am  very 
grateful  to  General  Thomas  for  his  feelings  towards 
me.  I  shall  stay  as  long  as  I  am  needed  here,  and 
serve  the  general  to  the  best  of  my  ability." 

"Bravely  said,  Fred,  bravely  said,"  responded 
Nelson.  "You  will  find  General  Thomas  a  more 
agreeable  commander  than  myself." 

"There,  General,  that  will  do,"  said  Thomas 
quietly. 

So  it  was  settled  that  Fred  was  to  stay  for  the 
present  with  General  Thomas. 

The  next  day  Generals  Thomas  and  Nelson 
went  to  Cincinnati  to  confer  with  General  Ander- 
son, and  Fred  was  invited  to  accompany  them. 

Once  more  he  was  asked  to  lay  before  General 
Anderson  the  full  text  of  the  conversation  he  had 
overheard  at  Georgetown.     This  he  did. 

"What  do  you  think,  General?"  asked  Thomas, 
who  had  listened  very  closely  to  the  recital. 

"I  am  afraid,"  replied  General  Anderson,  "that 
the  authorities  at  Washington  do  not  fully  realize 
the  condition  of  affairs  in  Kentucky.  Neither  have 
they  any  conception  of  the  intrigue  going  on  to 
take  the  State  out  of  the  Union.  No  doubt.  Gen- 
eral Buckner  has  been  playing  a  sharp  game  at 
Washington.  He  seems  to  have  completely  won 
the  confidence  of  the  President.  It  is  for  this  rea- 
son so  many  of  our  requests  pass  unheeded.  If 
what  young  Shackelford  has  heard  is  true.  General 
Buckner  is  now  in  Richmond.      He  is  there  to  ac- 


Ii8  GENERAL  NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

cept  a  command  from  the  Confederate  government, 
and  is  to  return  here  to  organize  the  disloyal  forces 
of  Kentucky  to  force  the  State  out  of  the  Union. 
Now,  in  the  face  of  these  facts,  what  do  you  think 
of  this,"  and  the  general  read  the  following: 

Executive  Mansion,  Aug.  17th,  1861. 
Hon.  Secretary  of  War. 

My  Dear  Sir: — Unless  there  be  reason  to  the  contrary,  not 
known  to  me,  make  out  a  commission  for  Simon  B.  Buckner  as 
a  Brigadier-General  of  volunteers.  It  is  to  be  put  in  the  hands 
of  General  Anderson,  and  delivered  to  General  Buckner,  or 
not,  at  the  discretion  of  General  Anderson.  Of  course,  it  is  to 
remain  a  secret  unless  and  until  the  commission  is  delivered. 

A.  Lincoln. 

During  the  reading,  General  Thomas  sat  with 
immovable  countenance,  betraying  neither  approba- 
tion nor  disgust.  But  Nelson  exploded  like  a  vol- 
cano. 

"Great  God!"  he  roared,  "are  they  all  idiots  at 
Washington?  Buckner  a  Federal  general!  Oh! 
the  fools,  the  fools!  Give  him  his  commission, 
Anderson,  give  him  his  commission,  and  then  let 
Lincoln  invite  Jeff  Davis  to  a  seat  in  the  cabinet. 
It  would  be  as  sensible,"  and  then  he  poured  forth 
such  a  volley  of  oaths  that  what  he  really  meant  to 
say  became  obscure. 

When  he  had  blown  himself  out,  General 
Thomas  quietly  said:  "Now,  General,  that  you 
have  relieved  yourself,  let  us  again  talk  business." 

"I  do  n't  believe  you  would  change  countenance, 
Thomas,  if  Beauregard  was  placed  in  command  of 
the  Federal  armies,"  replied  Nelson,  pettishly. 


THE  FOILING   OF  A   PLOT.  119 

"Perhaps  not,"  calmly  replied  Thomas.  "But 
Central  Kentucky  needed  just  such  fire  and  enthu- 
siasm as  you  possess  to  save  it  from  the  clutches  of 
the  rebels,  and  if  I  can  only  complete  the  grand 
work  you  have  begun  I  shall  be  content,  and  not 
worry  over  whom  the  President  recommends  for 
office." 

"You  will  complete  it,  General;  my  work  could 
not  be  left  in  better  hands,"  replied  Nelson,  com- 
pletely mollified. 

In  a  few  moments  Nelson  excused  himself,  as  he 
had  other  duties  to  perform. 

Looking  after  him.  General  Anderson  said:  "I 
am  afraid  Nelson's  temper  and  unruly  tongue  will 
get  him  into  serious  trouble  yet.  But  he  has  done 
what  I  believe  no  other  man  could  have  done  as 
well.  To  his  efforts,  more  than  to  any  other  one 
man,  do  we  owe  our  hold  on  Kentucky." 

"His  lion-like  courage  and  indomitable  energy 
will  cover  a  multitude  of  faults,"  was  the  reply  of 
General  Thomas. 

Fred  returned  to  Camp  Dick  Robinson  with 
General  Thomas,  and  he  soon  found  that  the  gen- 
eral was  fully  as  energetic  as  Nelson,  though  in  a 
more  quiet  way.  The  amount  of  work  that  General 
Thomas  dispatched  was  prodigious.  Every  little 
detail  was  looked  after,  but  there  was  no  hurry,  no 
confusion.  The  camp  began  to  assume  a  more 
military  aspect,  and  the  men  were  brought  under 
more  thorough  discipline. 

September  saw  great  changes  in  affairs  in  Ken- 


I20  GENERAL   NELSON'S   SCOUT. 

tucky.  According  to  the  program  which  Fred  had 
heard  outlined  at  Georgetown,  the  Confederates 
began  their  aggressive  movements.  Hickman,  on 
the  Mississippi  River,  was  occupied  by  the  Confeder- 
ate army  under  General  Polk  on  the  5th.  As  swift 
as  a  stroke  of  lightning,  General  Grant,  who  was  in 
command  at  Cairo,  Illinois,  retaliated  by  occupying 
Paducah  on  the  6th.  General  Polk  then  seized  the 
important  post  of  Columbus  on  the  7th.  A  few 
days  afterward  General  Buckner  moved  north  from 
Tennessee,  and  occupied  Bowling  Green.  At  the 
same  time  General  Zollicoffer  invaded  the  State 
from  Cumberland  Gap.  All  three  of  these  Confed- 
erate generals  issued  stirring  addresses  to  all  true 
Kentuckians  to  rally  to  their  support.  It  was  con- 
fidently expected  by  the  Confederate  authorities 
that  there  would  be  a  general  uprising  throughout 
the  State  in  favor  of  the  South.  But  they  were 
grievously  disappointed ;  the  effect  was  just  the 
opposite.  The  Legislature,  then  in  session  at 
Frankfort,  passed  a  resolution  commanding  the 
Governor  to  issue  a  proclamation  ordering  the  Con- 
federates at  once  to  evacuate  the  State.  Governor 
Magofifin,  much  to  his  chagrin,  was  obliged  to  issue 
the  proclamation.  A  few  days  later  the  Legislature 
voted  that  the  State  should  raise  a  force  of  40,000 
men,  and  that  this  force  be  tendered  the  United 
States  for  the  purpose  of  putting  down  rebellion.  An 
invitation  was  also  extended  to  General  Anderson  to 
assume  command  of  all  these  forces.  Thus,  to 
their  chagrin,  the  Confederates  saw  their  brightest 


THE  FOILING   OF  A   PLOT.  1 21 

hopes  perish.  Instead  of  their  getting  possession 
of  the  State,  even  neutrality  had  perished.  The 
State  was  irrevocably  committed  to  the  Union,  but 
the  people  were  as  hopelessly  divided  as  ever.  It 
was  to  be  a  battle  to  the  death  between  the  oppos- 
ing factions. 

Shortly  after  his  return  to  Dick  Robinson,  Fred 
began  to  long  to  hear  from  home,  to  know  how 
those  he  loved  fared ;  so  he  asked  General  Thomas 
for  a  day  or  two  of  absence.  It  was  readily 
granted,  and  soon  he  was  on  his  way  to  Danville. 
He  found  only  his  Uncle  and  Aunt  Pennington  at 
home.  His  father  had  gone  South  to  accept  the 
colonelcy  of  a  regiment,  and  was  with  Buckner. 
His  cousin  Calhoun  had  accompanied  Colonel 
Shackelford  South,  having  the  promise  of  a  posi- 
tion on  the  staff  of  some  general  ofificer.  His  little 
sister  Bessie  had  been  sent  to  Cincinnati  to  a  con- 
vent school.  The  adherents  of  the  opposing  fac- 
tions were  more  bitter  toward  each  other  than  ever, 
and  were  ready  to  spring  at  each  other's  throats  at 
the  slightest  provocation.  Neighbors  were  es- 
tranged, families  were  broken,  nevermore  to  be  re- 
united ;  and  over  all  there  semed  to  be  hanging  the 
black  shadow  of  coming  sorrow.  Kentucky  was  not 
only  to  be  deluged  in  blood,  but  with  the  hot  burn- 
ing tears  of  those  left  behind  to  groan  and  weep. 

Fred  was  received  coldly  by  his  uncle  and  aunt. 
"You  know,"  said  Judge  Pennington,  "my  house 
is  open  to  you,  but  I  cannot  help  feeling  the  keen- 
est sorrow  over  your  conduct." 


122  GENERAL   NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

"I  am  sorry,  very  sorry,  uncle,  if  what  I  have 
done  has  grieved  you,"  answered  Fred. 

"No  one  can  be  really  sorry  who  persists  in  his 
course,"  answered  the  judge.  "Fred,  rather — yes, 
a  thousand  times — had  I  rather  see  you  dead  than 
doing  as  you  are.  If  my  brave  boy  falls,"  and  his 
voice  trembled  as  he  spoke,  "I  shall  have  the  satis- 
faction of   knowing  that  he  fell  in  a  glorious   cause. 

But  you,  Fred,  you "  his  voice  broke  ;   he  could 

say  no  more. 

Fred  was  deeply  moved.  "Uncle,"  he  softly 
said,  "I  admit  you  are  honest  and  sincere  in  your 
belief.  Why  can  you  not  admit  as  much  for  me? 
Why  is  it  a  disgrace  to  fight  for  the  old  flag,  to  de- 
fend the  Union  that  Washington  and  Jefferson 
helped  form,  and  that  Jackson  defended?" 

"The  wrong,"  answered  Judge  Pennington, 
"consists  in  trying  to  coerce  sovereign  States.  The 
Constitution  gives  any  State  the  right  to  withdraw 
from  the  Union  at  pleasure.  The  South  is  fighting 
for  her  constitutional  rights " 

"And  for  human  slavery,"  added  Fred. 

The  judge's  cheeks  flamed  with  anger. 

"Look  out,  Fred,"  he  exclaimed,  choking  with 
passion,  "lest  I  drive  you  from  my  door,  despite 
my  promise  to  your  father.  Do  n't  go  too  far. 
You  are  not  only  fighting  against  the  South,  but 
you  are  becoming  a  detested  Abolitionist — a  nigger 
worshiper," 

Fred  felt  his  manhood  aroused,  but  controlling 
his  passion  he  calmly  replied : 


THE  FOILING   OF  A   PLOT.  123 

"Uncle,  I  will  not  displease  you  longer  with  my 
presence.  The  time  may  come  when  you  may  need 
my  help,  instead  of  my  needing  yours.  If  so,  do 
not  hesitate  to  call  on  me.  I  still  love  my  kindred 
as  well  as  ever;  they  are  as  near  to  me  as  ever. 
There  is  no  dishonor  in  a  man  loyally  following 
what  he  honestly  believes  to  be  right.  I  believe  you 
and  my  father  to  be  wrong — that  your  sympathies 
have  led  you  terribly  astray ;  but  in  my  sight  you 
are  none  the  less  true,  noble,  honest  men.  As  for 
me,  I  answer  for  myself.  I  am  for  the  Union,  now 
and  forever.  Good-bye,  uncle!  May  God  keep 
all  of  those  we  love  from  harm,"  and  he  rode 
away. 

Judge  Pennington  gazed  after  him  with  a 
troubled  look,  and  then  murmured  to  himself: 
"After  all,  a  fine  boy,  a  grand  boy!  A  Kentuckian 
all  over!     Would  that  he  were  on  the  right  side!" 

Upon  Fred's  return  to  headquarters  he  found 
General  Thomas  in  deep  consultation  with  his  staff. 
Circulars  had  been  scattered  all  over  the  State  and 
notices  printed  in  newspapers  calling  for  a  meeting 
of  the  State  Guards  at  Lexington  on  the  20th. 
Ostensibly  the  object  of  the  meeting  was  to  be  for 
a  week's  drill,  and  for  the  purpose  of  better  prepar- 
ing the  Guards  to  protect  the  interests  of  the  State. 
But  General  Thomas  believed  there  was  a  hidden 
meaning  in  the  call ;  that  it  was  conceived  in  de- 
ceit, and  that  it  meant  treachery.  What  this 
treachery  was  he  did  not  know,  and  it  was  this 
point   he   was   discussing  with   his  staff  when  Fred 


124  GENERAL   NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

entered.  The  sight  of  the  boy  brought  a  smile  to 
his  face. 

"Ah,  my  boy!"  he  exclaimed,  "I  am  glad  to 
see  you.  We  have  a  hard  problem  ;  it  is  one  rather 
in  your  line.      I  trust  you  can  solve  it." 

He  then  laid  the  circular  before  Fred,  and  ex- 
pressed his  opinion  that  it  contained  a  hidden 
meaning.  "There  is  no  end  to  those  fellows'  plot- 
tings,"  he  said,  "and  we  are  still  weak,  very  weak 
here.  With  General  Zollicoffer  moving  this  way 
from  Cumberland  Gap,  it  would  not  take  much  of 
a  force  in  our  rear  to  cause  a  great  disaster.  In 
fact,  a  hostile  force  at  Lexington,  even  if  small, 
would  be  a  serious  matter." 

Fred  read  the  circular  carefully,  as  if  reading 
between  the  lines,  and  then  asked : 

"It  is  the  real  meaning  of  this  call  that  you 
wish?" 

"By  all  means,  if  it  can  be  obtained,"  answered 
the  general. 

"I  will  try  to  obtain  it,"  replied  Fred,  quietly. 
"General  you  may  not  hear  from  me  for  two  or 
three  days." 

"May  success  attend  you,  my  boy,"  replied  the 
general,  kindly,  and  with  this  he  dismissed  his  stafT. 

"It  has  come  to  a  pretty  pass,"  said  a  dapper 
young  lieutenant  of  the  staff  to  an  older  member, 
"that  the  general  prefers  a  boy  to  one  of  us,"  and 
he  drew  himself  proudly  up,  as  if  to  say,  "Now,  if 
the  general  had  detailed  me,  there  might  have  been 
some  hopes  of  success." 


THE  FOILING   OF  A   PLOT.  125 

The  older  member  smiled,  and  answered:  "I 
think  it  just  as  well,  Lieutenant,  that  he  chose  the 
boy.  I  do  n't  think  either  you  or  me  fitted  for  that 
kind  of  work." 

The  lieutenant  sniffed  and  walked  ofT. 

Again  a  black-haired,  dark-skinned  boy  left 
headquarters  at  Dick  Robinson,  this  time  for  Lex- 
ington. Arriving  there,  Fred  took  a  room  at  the 
leading  hotel,  registering  as  Charles  Danford,  Cin- 
cinnati, thinking  it  best  to  take  an  entirely  fictitious 
name.  He  soon  learned  that  the  leading  South- 
ern sympathizers  of  the  city  were  in  the  habit  of 
meeting  in  a  certain  room  at  the  hotel.  He  kept 
very  quiet,  for  there  was  one  man  in  Lexington  he 
did  not  care  to  meet,  and  that  man  was  Major 
Hockoday.  He  knew  that  the  major  would  recog- 
nize him  as  the  boy  he  met  at  Georgetown,  and 
that  meant  the  defeat  of  his  whole  scheme.  Fred's 
first  step  was  to  make  friends  with  the  chamber 
maid,  a  comely  mulatto  girl.  This  he  did  with  a 
bit  of  flattery  and  a  generous  tip.  By  adroit  ques- 
tioning, he  learned  that  the  girl  had  charge  of  the 
room  in  which  the  meetings  of  the  conspirators  were 
held. 

Could  she  in  any  manner  secrete  him  in  the 
room  during  one  of  the  meetings? 

The  girl  took  alarm.  "No,  youn'  massa,  no!" 
she  replied,  trembling. 

"Not  for  five  dollars?" 

"Not  fo'  fiv'  'undred,"  answered  the  girl. 
"Massa  kill  me,  if  he  foun'  it  out." 


126  GENERAL   NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

Fred  saw  that  she  could  not  be  bribed ;  he  would 
have  to  try  a  new  tack.  "See  here,  Mary,"  he 
asked,  "you  would  like  to  be  free,  would  you  not, 
just  like  a  white  girl?" 

"Yes,  massa,  I  woul'  like  dat." 

"You  have  heard  of  President  Lincoln,  have  you 
not?" 

The  girl's  eyes  lit  up  with  a  sudden  fire.  "Yes, 
Massa  Linkun  good;  he  want  to  free  we  'uns.  All 
de  niggers  talkin'  'bout  dat." 

"Mary,  I  am  a  friend  of  Lincoln.  One  of  his 
great  men  sent  me  here.  The  men  who  meet  in 
that  room  are  his  enemies.  They  want  to  kill  him. ' ' 
The  girl's  eyes  opened  wide  with  terror. 

"I  am  here  trying  to  find  out  their  plans,  so  we 
can  keep  them  from  killing  Mr.  Lincoln.  Mary, 
you  must  help  me,  or  you  will  be  blamed  for  what 
may  happen,  and  you  will  never  be  free." 

The  girl  began  to  cry.  "Massa  will  whip  me  to 
death,  if  he  foun'  it  out,"  she  blubbered. 

"Your  master  will  never  find  it  out,  even  if  I  am 
discovered,  for  I  will  never  tell  on  you." 

"Dat  so,  massa?" 

"Yes;   I  will  swear  it  on  the  Bible." 

Like  most  of  her  race,  the  girl  was  very  super- 
stitious, and  had  great  reverence  for  the  Bible. 
She  went  and  brought  one,  and  with  his  hand  on 
the  book  Fred  took  a  most  solemn  oath  never  to 
betray  her — no,  not  if  he  was  torn  to  pieces  with 
red-hot  pincers. 

Along  toward  night  she  came  and  whispered  to 


THE  FOILING   OF  A   PLOT.  1 27 

Fred  that  she  had  been  told  to  place  the  room 
in  order.  There  was,  she  said,  but  one  place 
to  hide,  and  that  was  behind  a  large  sofa,  which 
stood  across  one  corner  of  the  room.  It  was  a 
perilous  hiding  place,  but  Fred  resolved  to  risk 
it.  "They  can  but  kill  me,"  thought  he,  "and  I 
had  almost  as  soon  die  as  fail." 

It  was  getting  dark  when  Mary  unlocked  the 
door  of  the  room  and  let  Fred  slip  in.  He  found 
that  by  lying  close  to  the  sofa,  he  might  escape  de- 
tection, though  one  should  glance  over  the  top. 

The  minutes  passed  like  hours  to  the  excited 
boy.  The  slightest  noise  startled  him,  and  he 
found  himself  growing  nervous,  and  in  spite  of  all 
his  efforts,  a  slight  tremor  shook  his  limbs.  At  last 
he  heard  foot-falls  along  the  hall,  the  door  was  un- 
locked, and  some  one  entered  the  room.  It  was 
the  landlord,  who  lit  the  gas,  looked  carefully 
around,  and  went  out.  Soon  the  room  began  to 
fill.  Fred's  nervousness  was  all  gone;  but  his 
heart  beat  so  loudly  that  he  thought  it  must  be 
heard.  It  was  a  notable  gathering  of  men  distin- 
guished not  only  in  State  but  national  affairs. 
Chief  among  them  was  John  C.  Breckinridge,  as 
knightly  and  courteous  as  ever;  then  there  were 
Colonel  Humphrey  Marshall,  John  H.  Morgan, 
Colonel  Preston,  and  a  score  of  others.  These 
men  had  gathered  for  the  purpose  of  dragging  Ken- 
tucky out  of  the  Union  over  the  vote  of  her  citizens, 
and  in  spite  of  her  loyal  Legislature.  In  their  zeal 
they  threw  to  the  winds  their  own  beloved  doctrine 


128  GENERAL  NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

of  State  rights,  and  would  force  Kentucky  into  the 
Southern  Confederacy  whether  she  wanted  to  go  or 
not.  Yet  they  were  men  of  the  highest  character. 
They  beheved  the  South  was  right,  that  it  was 
their  duty  to  defend  her,  and  that  any  means  were 
lawful  to  bring  about  the  desired  end. 

Fred,  as  he  lay  in  his  hiding  place,  hardly  dared 
to  breathe.  Once  his  heart  ceased  to  beat  when 
he  heard  Morgan  say:  "There  is  room  behind 
that  sofa  for  one  to  hide." 

Colonel  Marshall  glanced  behind  it,  and  said: 
"There  is  no  one  there." 

Then  they  commenced  to  talk,  and  Fred  lay 
and  listened  to  the  whole  plot.  The  State  Guards 
were  to  assemble,  professedly,  as  the  circular 
stated,  for  muster  and  drill,  but  really  for  one  of 
the  most  daring  of  coitps-dc-niain. 

The  State  arsenal  at  Frankfort  was  to  be  taken 
by  surprise,  and  the  arms  secured.  The  loyal 
Legislature  was  then  to  be  dispersed  at  the  point 
of  the  bayonet,  a  provisional  Legislature  organized, 
and  the  State  voted  out  of  the  Union.  The  force 
was  then  to  attack  Camp  Dick  Robinson,  in  con- 
junction with  General  Zollicoffer,  who  was  to  move 
up  from  Cumberland  Gap;  and  between  the  two 
forces  it  was  thought  the  camp  would  fall  an  easy 
prey.  In  the  mean  time,  Buckner  was  to  make  a 
dash  for  Louisville  from  Bowling  Green.  If  he 
failed  to  take  it  by  surprise,  all  the  forces  were  to 
join  and  capture  it,  thus  placing  the  whole  State  in 
the  control  of  the  Confederates. 


THE  FOILING   OF  A   PLOT.  129 

It   was   a   bold,  but   admirably   conceived   plan. 

In  an  eloquent  speech,  Mr.  Breckinridge  pointed 
out  that  the  plan  was  feasible.  He  said  the  ball 
once  started,  thousands  of  Kentuckians  would 
spring  to  arms  all  over  the  State.  The  plan  was 
earnestly  discussed  and  fully  agreed  to.  The  work 
of  each  man  was  carefully  mapped  out,  and  every 
detail  carefully  arranged.  At  last  the  meeting  was 
over,  and  the  company  began  to  pass  out. 

Fred's  heart  gave  a  great  bound.  He  had  suc- 
ceeded; the  full  details  of  the  plot  were  in  his  pos- 
session. Waiting  until  all  were  well  out  of  the 
room,  he  crawled  from  his  hiding  place,  and  passed 
out.  But  he  had  exulted  too  soon  in  his  success. 
He  had  scarcely  taken  three  steps  from  the  door 
before  he  came  face  to  face  with  Major  Hockoday, 
who  was  returning  for  something  he  had  forgotten. 
The  surprise  was  a  mutual  one. 

"You  here!"  gasped  the  major.  "Now  I  have 
you,  you  young  imp  of  Satan,"  and  he  made  a  grab 
for  his  collar.  But  Fred  was  as  quick  and  lithe  as 
a  cat,  and  eluding  the  major's  clutch,  he  gave  him 
such  a  blow  in  the  face  that  it  staggered  him 
against  the  wall.  Before  he  recovered  from  the 
effects  of  the  blow  Fred  had  disappeared. 

"Murder!  murder!"  the  major  bawled.  "Stop 
the  villain !" 

From  all  directions  the  guests  came  running. 
The  major's  face  was  covered  with  blood,  and  he 
truly  presented  a  gory  appearance.  It  was  some 
time  before  the  excitement  subsided  so  the  major 


130  GENERAL   NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

could  tell  his  story.  It  was  that  a  young  villain 
had  assaulted  and  attempted  to  murder  him.  By 
his  description,  the  landlord  at  once  identified  the 
boy  as  the  one  who  occupied  room  45.  But  a 
search  revealed  the  fact  that  the  bird  had  flown. 
It  was  also  ascertained  that  the  major  had  received 
no  serious  injury. 

By  request  of  the  major  the  meeting  was  hastily 
re-convened.  There,  in  its  privacy,  he  gave  the 
true  history  of  the  attempted  murder,  as  the  guests 
of  the  hotel  thought  it.  The  major  expressed  his 
opinion  that  the  boy  was  a  spy.  He  was  sure  it 
was  the  same  boy  he  had  met  in  the  hotel  at 
Georgetown.  "You  know,"  he  said,  "that  the 
landlord  at  Georgetown  found  a  hole  drilled  through 
the  plastering  of  the  room  that  this  boy  occupied, 
into  the  one  which  was  occupied  by  me  and  in 
which  we  held  a  meeting.  I  tell  you,  the  boy  is  a 
first-class  spy,  and  I  would  not  be  surprised  if  he 
was  concealed  somewhere  in  this  room  during  the 
meeting." 

"Impossible!  impossible!"  cried  several  voices, 
but  nevertheless  a  number  of  faces  grew  pale. 

"There  is  no  place  he  could  hide  in  this  room, 
except  behind  the  sofa,  and  I  looked  there,"  said 
Marshall. 

"Are  you  sure  you  looked  well?"  asked  Mor- 
gan. 

"Quite  sure." 

"Gentlemen,"  said  the  landlord,  "this  room  is 
kept  locked.      No  one  could  have  got  into  it." 


'You  here  !"  gasped  the  Major,  and  he  made  a  grab  for  his  collar. 


THE  FOILING   OF  A   PLOT.  131 

"All  I  know,"  said  the  major,  "I  met  him 
about  three  paces  from  the  door,  just  as  I  turned 
the  corner.  When  I  attempted  to  stop  him,  he 
suddenly  struck  the  blow  and  disappeared.  If  it 
was  not  for  his  black  hair,  I  should  be  more  than 
ever  convinced  that  the  boy  was  Fred  Shackel- 
ford." 

"In  league  with  the  devil,  probably,"  growled 
Captain  Conway.  "For  if  there  was  ever  one  of 
his  imps  on  earth,  it  's  that  Shackelford  boy. 
Curse  him,  I  will  be  even  with  him  yet." 

"And  so  will  I,"  replied  the  major,  gently  feel- 
ing of  his  swollen  nose. 

"Gentlemen,"  said  John  H.  Morgan,  "this  is 
no  time  for  idle  regrets.  Whether  that  boy  has 
heard  anything  or  not,  we  cannot  tell.  But  from 
what  Major  Hockoday  has  said,  there  is  no  doubt 
but  that  he  is  a  spy.  His  assault  on  the  major  and 
fleeing  show  that.  So  it  behooves  us  to  be  care- 
ful. I  have  a  trusty  agent  at  Nicholasville,  who 
keeps  me  fully  informed  of  all  that  transpires  there. 
I  will  telegraph  him  particulars,  and  have  him  be 
on  the  watch  for  such  a  boy." 

It  was  an  uneasy  crowd  that  separated  that 
night.  It  looked  as  if  one  boy  might  bring  to 
naught  all  their  well-laid  plans. 

The  next  morning  Morgan  received  the  follow- 
ing telegram  from  Nicholasville: 

John  H.  Morgan: 

Early  this  morning  a  black-haired,  dark-skinned  boy, 
riding  a  jaded  horse,  came  in  on  the  Lexington  pike.     Without 


132  GENERAL   NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

stopping  for  refreshments  he  left  his  horse,  and  procured  a 
fresh  one,  which  the  same  boy  left  here  a  couple  of  days  ago, 
and  rode  rapidly  away  in  the  direction  of  Camp  Dick  Robinson. 

Smith. 

"That  means  trouble,"  muttered  Morgan.  "I 
must  put  all  the  boys  on  their  guard." 

Late  in  the  afternoon  of  the  19th  the  following 
telegram  was  received  by  Morgan  from  Nicholas- 
ville: 

John  H.  Morgan: 

Colonel  Bramlette  with  his  regiment  has  just  forcibly  taken 
possession  of  a  train  of  cars,  and  will  at  once  start  for  Lexing- 
ton.    You  are  in  danger.  Smith. 

That  night  Breckinridge,  Marshall,  Morgan  and 
half  a  score  of  others  fled  from  Lexington,  Their 
plottings  had  come  to  naught;  instead  of  their 
bright  visions  of  success,  they  were  fugitives  from 
their  homes.  It  would  have  fared  ill  with  that 
black-haired  boy  if  they  could  have  got  hold  of  him 
just  then. 

When  Fred  escaped  from  Major  Hockoday,  he 
lost  no  time  in  making  his  way  to  the  home  of  one 
of  the  most  prominent  Union  men  of  Lexington. 
Telling  him  he  had  most  important  dispatches  for 
General  Thomas,  a  horse  was  procured,  and  through 
the  darkness  of  the  night  Fred  rode  to  Nicholas- 
ville,  reaching  there  early  in  the  morning.  Leav- 
ing his  tired  horse,  and  taking  his  own,  which  he 
had  left  there,  he  rode  with  all  speed  to  Camp  Dick 
Robinson,  and  made  his  report  to  General  Thomas. 

The  general  was  both  astonished  and  delighted. 
He   warmly   congratulated    Fred,    saying   it   was   a 


THE  FOILING   OF  A   PLOT.  133 

wonderful  piece  of  work.  "Let's  see,"  said  he, 
"this  is  the  i6th.  I  do  not  want  to  scare  them,  as  I 
wish  to  make  a  fine  haul,  take  them  right  in  their 
treasonable  acts.  It  's  the  only  way  I  can  make 
the  government  believe  it.  On  the  19th  I  will  send 
Colonel  Bramlette  with  his  regiment  with  orders  to 
capture  the  lot.  I  will  also  have  to  guard  against 
the  advance  of  General  Zollicoffer.  As  for  the  ad- 
vance of  General  Buckner  on  Louisville,  that  is  out 
of  my  department. " 

"And  there,"  said  Fred,  "is  where  our  greatest 
danger  lies.  Louisville  is  so  far  north  they  are 
careless,  forgetting  that  Buckner  has  a  railroad  in 
good  repair  on  which  to  transport  his  men." 

"Do  you  think  he  will  try  that?"  asked  Thomas. 

"Why  not?"  answered  Fred,  and  then  he  asked 
for  a  map.  After  studying  it  for  some  time,  he 
turned  to  Thomas  and  said : 

"General,  I  have  a  favor  to  ask.  I  would  like  a 
leave  of  absence  for  a  week.  I  have  an  idea  I  want 
to  work  out." 

Thomas  sat  looking  at  the  boy  a  moment,  and 
then  said:     "It  is  nothing  rash,  is  it,  my  boy?" 

"No  more  so  than  what  I  have  done,"  answered 
Fred.  "In  fact,  I  do  n't  know  that  I  will  do  any- 
thing. It  is  only  an  idea  I  want  to  work  on;  it 
may  be  all  wrong.  That  is  the  reason  I  can't  ex- 
plain it  to  you." 

"You  are  not  going  to  enter  the  enemy's  lines 
as  a  spy,  are  you?  If  so,  I  forbid  it.  You  are  too 
young  and  too  valuable  to  risk  your  life  that  way." 


134  GENERAL   NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

"No,  General,  at  least  I  trust  not.  The  rebels 
will  have  to  get  much  farther  north  than  they  are 
now  if  I  enter  their  lines,  even  if  I  carry  out  my 
idea." 

"Very  well,  Fred;  you  have  my  consent,  but 
be  very  careful." 

"I  shall  try  to  be  so.  General,  I  only  hope 
that  the  suspicions  I  have  are  groundless,  and  my 
journey  will  prove  a  pleasure  trip," 

Thus  saying,  Fred  bade  the  general  good  day, 
and  early  the  next  morning  he  rode  away,  taking 
the  road  to  Danville. 


CHAPTER   VIII. 

A   DARING   DEED. 

FRED  did  not  stop  in  Danville;  instead,  he 
avoided  the  main  street,  so  as  to  be  seen  by 
as  few  of  his  acquaintances  as  possible.  He  rode 
straight  on  to  Lebanon  before  he  stopped.  Here  he 
put  up  for  the  night,  giving  himself  and  his  horse  a 
good  rest.  The  country  was  in  such  a  disturbed 
condition  that  every  stranger  was  regarded  with 
suspicion,  and  forced  to  answer  a  multitude  of 
questions.  Fred  did  not  escape,  and  to  all  he  gave 
the  same  answer,  that  he  was  from  Danville,  and 
that  he  was  on  his  way  to  Elizabethtown  to  visit 
his  sick  grandfather. 

One  gentleman  was  exceedingly  inquisitive.  He 
was  especially  interested  in  Prince,  examining  him 
closely,  and  remarking  he  was  one  of  the  finest 
horses  he  ever  saw.  Fred  learned  that  the  man's 
name  was  Mathews,  that  he  was  a  horse  dealer, 
and  was  also  a  violent  sympathizer  with  the  South. 
He  was  also  reputed  to  be  something  of  a  bully. 
Fred  thought  some  of  his  questions  rather  imperti- 
nent, and  gave  rather  short  answers,  which  did  not 
seem  to  please  Mathews. 

Leaving  Lebanon  early  the  next  morning,  he 
135 


136  GENERAL   NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

rode  nearly  west,  it  being  his  intention  to  strike  the 
Louisville  and  Nashville  railroad  a  little  south  of 
Elizabethtown.  It  was  a  beautiful  September  day, 
and  as  Fred  cantered  along,  he  sang  snatches  of 
songs,  and  felt  merrier  and  happier  than  at  any  time 
since  that  sad  parting  with  his  father.  Where  was 
his  father  now?  Where  was  his  cousin  Calhoun? 
And  he  thought  of  that  strange  oath  which  bound 
Calhoun  and  himself  together,  and  wondered  what 
would  come  of  it  all.  But  what  was  uppermost  in 
his  mind  was  the  object  of  his  present  journey. 
Was  there  anything  in  it,  or  was  it  a  fool's  errand? 
Time  would  tell.  As  he  was  riding  along  a  country 
road,  pondering  these  things,  it  suddenly  occurred 
to  him  that  the  landscape  appeared  familiar.  He 
reined  up  his  horse,  and  looked  around.  The  fields 
stretching  away  before  him,  the  few  trees,  and 
above  all  a  tumbled  down,  half-ruined  log  hut.  It 
was  all  so  familiar.  Yet  he  knew  he  had  never 
been  there  before.  What  did  it  mean?  Could  he 
have  seen  this  in  a  dream  sometime?  The  more  he 
looked,  the  more  familiar  it  seemed ;  and  the  more 
he  was  troubled. 

A  countryman  came  along  riding  a  raw-boned 
spavined  horse ;  a  rope  served  for  a  bridle,  and  an 
old  coffee  sack  strapped  on  the  sharp  back  of  the 
horse  took  the  place  of  a  saddle.  Having  no  stir- 
rups, the  countryman's  huge  feet  hung  dangling 
down  and  swung  to  and  fro,  like  two  weights  tied  to 
a  string;  a  dilapidated  old  hat,  through  whose  holes 
stuck  tufts  of  his  bleached  tow  hair,  adorned  his  head. 


A   DARING  DEED.  1 37 

"Stranger,  you  'uns  'pears  to  be  interested,"  he 
remarked  to  Fred,  as  he  reined  in  his  steed,  and  at 
the  same  time  ejected  about  a  pint  of  tobacco  juice 
from  his  capacious  mouth. 

"Yes,"  answered  Fred,  "this  place  seems  to  be 
very  familiar — one  that  I  have  seen  many  times ; 
yet  to  my  certain  knowledge,  I  have  never  been 
here  before.      I  can  't  understand  it." 

"Seen  it  in  a  picter,  I  reckon,"  drawled  the 
countryman. 

"What  's  that?"  quickly  asked  Fred.  "I  have 
seen  it  in  a  picture?  Where?  What  do  you 
mean?" 

"Nothin*,  stranger,  only  they  do  say  the  picter 
of  that  air  blamed  old  shanty  is  every  whar  up 
No'th.  Blast  the  ole  place.  I  do  n't  see  anything 
great  in  it.  I  wish  it  war  sunk  before  he  war 
born." 

"Why,  man,  what  do  you  mean?  You  talk  in 
riddles." 

"Mean!"  replied  the  native,  expectorating  at  a 
stone  in  the  road,  and  hitting  it  fairly.  "I  mean 
that  the  gol-all-fir'-est,  meanest  cuss  that  ever  lived 
war  born  thar,  the  man  what  's  making  war  on  the 
South,  and  wants  to  put  the  niggers  ekal  to  us. 
Abe  Lincoln,  drat  him,  war  born  in  that  ole 
house." 

Fred  reverently  took  off  his  hat.  This  then  was 
the  lowly  birthplace  of  the  man  whose  name  was 
in  the  mouths  of  millions.  How  mean,  how  poor 
it   looked,  and   yet   to  what  a  master  mind  it  gave 


138  GENERAL   NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

birth!  The  Hfe  of  Lincoln  had  possessed  a  peculiar 
fascination  for  Fred,  and  during  the  presidential 
campaign  of  the  year  before  the  picture  of  his  birth- 
place had  been  a  familiar  one  to  him.  He  now 
understood  why  the  place  looked  so  familiar.  It 
was  like  looking  on  the  face  of  one  he  had  carefully 
studied  in  a  photograph. 

"Reckon  you  are  a  stranger,  or  you  would  have 
knowed  the  place?"  queried  the  countryman. 

"Yes,  I  am  a  stranger,"  answered  Fred. 
"Then  this  is  the  place  where  the  President  of  the 
United  States  was  born?" 

"Yes,  an'  it  war  a  po'  day  for  ole  Kentuck  when 
he  war  born.  Oughter  to  ha'  died,  the  ole  Aboli- 
tioner. " 

Fred  smiled,  "Well,"  he  said,  "I  must  be 
going.  I  am  very  much  obliged  to  you  for  your 
information." 

"Do  n't  mention  it,  stranger,  don't  mention  it. 
Say,  that  's  a  mighty  fine  hoss  you  air  ridin' ;  look 
out  or  some  of  them  fellers  scootin'  round  the 
country  will  get  him.  Times  mighty  ticklish, 
stranger,  mighty  ticklish.  Have  a  chaw  of  ter- 
backer?"  and  he  extended  a  huge  roll  of  Kentucky 
twist. 

"No,  thank  you,"  responded  Fred,  and  bidding 
the  countryman  good  day,  he  rode  away  leaving 
him  in  the  road  staring  after  him,  and  muttering: 
"Mighty  stuck  up!  Do  n't  chaw  terbacker.  Won- 
der if    he  aint  one  of  them  Abolitioners!" 

It  was  the  middle  of  the  afternoon  when  Fred 


A  DARING  DEED.  1 39 

struck  the  railroad  at  a  small  station  a  few  miles 
south  of  Elizabethtown.  There  was  a  crowd 
around  the  httle  depot,  and  Fred  saw  that  they 
were  greatly  excited.  Hitching  his  horse,  he 
mingled  with  the  throng,  and  soon  learned  that 
the  train  from  the  south  was  overdue  several 
hours.  To  add  to  the  mystery,  all  telegraphic 
communication  with  the  south  had  been  severed. 
Strike  the  instrument  as  often  as  he  might,  the 
operator  could  get  no  response. 

"It  's  mighty  queer,"  said  an  intelligent  looking 
man.  "There  is  mischief  up  the  road  of  some 
kind.  Here  Louisville  has  been  telegraphing  like 
mad  for  hours,  and  can't  get  a  reply  beyond  this 
place." 

Here  the  operator  came  out  and  announced  that 
telegraphic  communication  had  also  been  severed  on 
the  north. 

"We  are  entirely  cut  off,"  he  said.  "I  can 
learn  nothing.  We  will  have  to  wait  and  see 
what's  the  matter,  that  's  all." 

Just  then  away  to  the  south  a  faint  tinge  of 
smoke  was  seen  rising,  and  the  cry  was  raised  that 
a  train  was  coming.  The  excitement  arose  to  fever 
heat,  and  necks  were  craned,  and  eyes  strained  to 
catch  the  first  glimpse  of  the  train.  At  length  its 
low  rumbling  could  be  heard,  and  when  at  last  it 
hove  in  sight,  it  was  seen  to  be  a  very  heavy  one. 
Slowly  it  drew  up  to  the  station,  and  to  the  sur- 
prise of  the  lookers-on  it  was  loaded  down  with  sol- 
diers. 


140  GENERAL  NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

"Hurrah  for  Louisville!"  shouted  the  soldiers, 
and  the  crowd  took  up  the  cry.  It  was  Buckner  s 
army  from  Bowling  Green  en  route  for  Louisville  by 
train,  hoping  thereby  to  take  the  place  completely 
by  surprise.  So  far,  everything  had  gone  well. 
Telegraphic  communications  all  along  the  line  had 
been  severed  by  trusty  agents;  the  Federal  author- 
ities at  Louisville  were  resting  in  fancied  security; 
the  city  was  lightly  guarded. 

Already  General  Buckner's  hopes  were  high.  In 
fancy,  he  heard  his  name  on  every  tongue,  and 
heard  himself  called  the  greatest  military  genius  of 
the  country.  When  the  crowd  caught  the  full 
meaning  of  the  movement,  cheer  after  cheer  made 
the  welkin  ring.  They  grasped  the  soldiers'  hands, 
and  bade  them  wipe  the  Yankees  from  the  face  of 
the  earth. 

Fred  took  in  the  situation  at  a  glance.  This 
was  the  idea  of  which  he  spoke  to  General  Thomas. 
He  had  an  impression  that  General  Buckner  might 
attempt  to  do  just  what  he  was  now  doing.  It  was 
the  hope  of  thwarting  the  movement,  if  made,  that 
had  led  Fred  to  make  the  journey.  His  impres- 
sions had  proven  true;  he  was  on  the  ground,  but 
how  to  stop  the  train  was  now  the  question.  He 
had  calculated  on  plenty  of  time,  that  he  could  find 
out  when  the  train  was  due,  and  plan  his  work  ac- 
cordingly. But  the  train  was  before  him.  In  a 
moment  or  two  it  would  be  gone,  and  with  it  all 
opportunity  to  stop  it.  The  thought  was  madden- 
ing.     If    anything    was    done,    it    must     be     done 


A  DARING  DEED.  141 

quickly.  The  entire  population  of  the  little  village 
was  at  the  depot ;  there  was  little  danger  of  his  being 
noticed.  Dashing  into  a  blacksmith  shop  he  secured 
a  sledge ;  then  mounting  his  horse,  he  rode  swiftly 
to  the  north.  About  half  a  mile  from  the  depot 
there  was  a  curve  in  the  track  which  would  hide 
him  from  observation.  Jumping  Prince  over  the  low 
fence  which  guarded  the  railroad,  in  a  few  seconds 
he  was  at  work  with  the  sledge  trying  to  batter  out 
the  spikes  which  held  a  rail  in  position.  His  face 
was  pale,  his  teeth  set.  He  worked  like  a  demon. 
Great  drops  of  perspiration  stood  out  on  his  fore- 
head, and  his  blows  rang  out  like  the  blows  of  a 
giant.  The  train  whistled;  it  was  ready  to  start. 
Fred  groaned.  Would  he  be  too  late?  Between 
his  strokes  he  could  hear  the  clang  of  the  bell,  the 
parting  cheers  of  the  crowd.  He  struck  like  a  mad- 
man. The  heads  of  the  spikes  flew  off;  they  were 
driven  in  and  the  plates  smashed.  One  end  of  a 
rail  was  loosened ;  it  was  driven  in  a  few  inches. 
The  deed  was  done,  and  none  too  soon.  The  train 
was  rounding  the  curve. 

So  busy  was  Fred  that  he  had  not  noticed  that 
two  men  on  horseback  had  ridden  up  to  the  fence, 
gazed  at  him  a  moment  in  astonishment,  then 
shouted  in  anger,  and  dismounted.  Snatching  a 
revolver  from  his  pocket,  Fred  sent  a  ball  whistling 
by  their  ears,  and  yelled:  "Back!  back,  as  you 
value  your  lives !" 

Jumping  on  their  horses  quicker  than  they  dis- 
mounted,   they   galloped  toward   the    approaching 


142  GENERAL  NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

train,  yelling  and  wildly  gesticulating.  The  en- 
gineer saw  them,  but  it  was  before  the  day  of  air 
brakes,  and  it  was  impossible  to  stop  the  heavy 
train.  The  engine  plunged  off  the  track,  tore  up 
the  ground  and  ties  for  a  few  yards,  and  then 
turned  over  on  its  side,  where  it  lay  spouting 
smoke  and  steam,  and  groaning  like  a  thing  of  life. 
It  lay  partly  across  the  track,  thus  completely 
blocking  it.  The  engineer  and  fireman  had  jumped, 
and  so  slowly  was  the  train  running  that  the  cars 
did  not  leave  the  track.  For  this  Fred  was  de- 
voutly thankful.  He  had  accomplished  his  object, 
and  no  one  had  been  injured.  Jumping  on  his 
horse,  he  gave  a  shout  of  triumph  and  rode 
away. 

But  the  frightened  soldiers  had  been  pouring 
from  the  cars.  The  two  men  on  horseback  were 
pointing  at  Fred  and  yelling:  "There!  there 
goes  the  villain  who  did  it." 

"Fire!  fire!"  thundered  a  colonel  who  had  just 
sprung  out  of  the  foremost  car.  A  hundred  rifles 
blazed.  Fred's  horse,  was  seen  to  stumble 
slightly;  the  boy  swayed,  and  leaned  forward  in 
his  seat ;  but  quickly  recovering  himself,  he  turned 
around  and  waving  his  hat  shouted  defiance. 

"Great  heavens!"  shouted  a  boy's  voice. 
"That  is  Fred  Shackelford,  and  that  horse  is 
Prince."  It  was  Calhoun  Pennington  who  spoke. 
The  colonel  who  had  given  the  order  to  fire  turned 
pale,  staggered  and  would  have  fallen  if  one  of  his 
officers  had  not  caught  him. 


"  P'ire  !  Fire  ! ' 


thundered  a  Colonel  who  had  just  sprung  out  of 
the  foremost  car. 


A   DARING  DEED.  143 

"Merciful  God!"  he  moaned.  "I  ordered  my 
men  to  fire  on  my  own  son." 

The  officers  gathered  around  General  Buckner, 
who  stood  looking  at  the  wrecked  engine  with 
hopeless  despair  pictured  in  every  feature.  His 
visions  of  glory  had  vanished,  as  it  were,  in  a  mo- 
ment. No  plaudits  from  an  admiring  world,  no 
"Hail!  the  conquering  hero  comes."  Utter  failure 
was  the  end  of  the  movement  for  which  he  had 
hoped  so  much.  Surprise  was  now  impossible.  It 
would  take  hours  to  clear  away  the  wreck.  He 
groaned  in  the  agony  of  his  spirit,  and  turned 
away.  His  officers  stood  by  in  silence ;  his  sorrow 
was  too  great  for  words  of  encouragement. 

Then  a  most  pathetic  incident  occurred.  Colo- 
nel Shackelford  tottered  up  to  General  Buckner, 
pale  as  death,  and  trembling  in  every  limb.  "Gen- 
eral," he  gasped,  "it  was  my  boy,  my  son  who  did 
this.  I  am  unworthy  to  stand  in  your  presence  for 
bringing  such  a  son  into  the  world.  Cashier  me, 
shoot  me  if  you  will.  I  resign  my  command  from 
this  moment." 

The  soul  of  the  man  who  refused  to  desert  his 
soldiers  at  Fort  Donelson,  when  those  in  command 
above  him  fled,  who  afterwards  helped  bear  Gen- 
eral Grant  to  his  tomb,  with  a  heart  as  tender  as 
that  of  a  woman,  now  asserted  itself.  His  own 
terrible  disappointment  was  forgotten  in  the  sorrow 
of  his  friend.  Grasping  the  hand  of  Colonel 
Shackelford,  he  said  with  the  deepest  emotion : 

"Colonel,  not   a  soldier  will  hold  you   respon- 


144  GENERAL   NELSON'S   SCOUT. 

sible.  This  is  a  struggle  in  which  the  noblest  fam- 
ilies are  divided.  If  this  deed  had  been  for  the 
South  instead  of  the  North,  you  would  be  the 
proudest  man  in  the  Confederacy.  Can  we  not  see 
the  bravery,  the  heroism  of  the  deed,  even  though 
it  has  dashed  our  fondest  hopes  to  the  ground,  shat- 
tered and  broken?  No,  Colonel,  I  shall  not  accept 
your  resignation.  I  know  you  will  be  as  valiant 
for  the  South,  as  your  son  has  been  for  the  North." 

Tears  gushed  from  Colonel  Shackelford's  eyes; 
he  endeavored  to  speak,  but  his  tongue  refused  to 
express  his  feelings.  The  officers,  although  bowed 
down  with  disappointment,  burst  into  a  cheer,  and 
there  was  not  one  who  did  not  feel  prouder  of  their 
general  in  his  disappointment  than  if  he  had  been 
successful. 

How  was  it  at  Louisville  during  this  time?  Gen- 
eral Thomas  had  warned  General  Anderson,  who 
had  moved  his  headquarters  to  that  city,  that  Gen- 
eral Buckner  was  contemplating  an  advance.  But 
it  was  thought  that  he  would  come  with  waving 
banners  and  with  the  tramp  of  a  great  army,  and 
that  there  would  be  plenty  of  time  to  prepare  for 
him.  Little  did  they  think  he  would  try  to  storm 
the  city  with  a  train  of  cars,  and  be  in  their  midst 
before  they  knew  it.  When  the  train  was  delayed 
and  telegraphic  communications  severed,  it  was 
thought  that  some  accident  had  happened.  There 
was  not  the  slightest  idea  of  the  true  state  of 
affairs.  As  hours  passed  and  nothing  was  heard  of 
the    delayed    train,  a   train    of    discovery  was   sent 


A   DARING  DEED.  145 

south  to  find  out  what  was  the  matter.  This  train 
ran  into  Buckner's  advance  at  Elizabethtown,  and 
was  seized. 

Not  hearing  anything  from  this  train,  an  engine 
was  sent  after  it.  Still  there  was  no  idea  of  what 
had  happened,  no  preparations  to  save  Louisville. 
This  engine  ran  into  Buckner's  advance  at  Mul- 
draugh  Hill.  The  fireman  was  a  loyal  man  and  at 
once  grasped  the  situation.  He  leaped  from  his 
engine  and  ran  back.  What  could  this  one  man 
do,  miles  from  Louisville,  and  on  foot !  He  proved 
a  hero.  Meeting  some  section  hands  with  a  hand- 
car, he  shouted:  "Back!  back!  the  road  above  is 
swarming  with  rebels." 

The  car  was  turned   and   started  for  Louisville. 

How  those  men  worked!  Great  streams  of  per- 
spiration ran  down  their  bodies;  their  breath  came 
in  gasps,  and  still  the  fireman  shouted:  "Work 
her  lively,  boys,  for  God's  sake,  work  her  lively!" 

At  last  Louisville  was  reached,  and  for  the  first 
time  the  facts  known.  At  once  all  was  excitement. 
There  was  hardly  a  soldier  in  the  city.  Once  more 
the  devoted  Home  Guards,  the  men  who  saved  the 
city  from  riot  and  bloodshed  on  July  22d,  sprang 
to  arms.  General  Rousseau  was  ordered  from 
across  the  river.  He  had  but  1,200  men.  These, 
with  the  Home  Guards,  made  a  force  of  nearly 
3,000  men.  These  men  were  hurried  on  board  the 
cars,  and  sent  forward  under  the  command  of  Gen- 
eral W.  T.  Sherman.  Through  the  darkness  of 
the  night  this  train  felt  its  way.      On  reaching  Roll- 


146  GENERAL   NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

ing  Fork  of  Salt  River  the  bridge  was  found  to  be 
burnt.  Despairing  of  reaching  Louisville,  General 
Buckner  had  destroyed  the  bridge  to  delay  the  ad- 
vance of  the  Federal  troops.  The  danger  was 
over.  Louisville  was  once  more  saved.  But  how 
many  American  boys  and  girls  know  the  name  of 
the  daring  young  man  who  tore  up  the  track,  or  the 
brave  fireman  who  brought  back  the  news?* 

But  how  was  it  with  Fred ;  had  he  escaped  un- 
hurt from  that  volley? 

The  stumble  of  his  horse  was  caused  by  step- 
ping into  a  hole,  yet  slight  as  the  incident  was,  it 
saved  Fred's  life,  for  it  threw  him  slightly  forward, 
and  at  the  same  moment  a  ball  tore  through  the 
crown  of  his  hat.  Another  ball  struck  the  crupper 
of  his  saddle,  and  another  one  bored  a  hole  through 
Prince's  right  ear. 

As  soon  as  he  was  out  of  sight  Fred  stopped, 
and,  ascertaining  that  no  damage  had  been  done, 
excepting  the  perforating  of  Prince's  ear  and  his 
hat,  he  patted  his  horse's  neck  and  said:  "Ah, 
Prince,  old  boy,  you  are  marked  now  for  life,  but 
it  is  all  right.  I  shall  always  know  you  by  that 
little  hole  through  your  ear." 

Fred  stopped  that  night  at  a  planter's  house, 
who  at  first  viewed  him  with  some  suspicion ;  but 
when  he  was  told  of  Buckner's  advance,  he  was  so 
overjoyed,  being  an  ardent  Secessionist,  that  there 
was  nothing  good  enough  for  his  guest. 

•The  name  of  the  gallant  young  man  who  tore  up  the  track  was  Crutcher ; 
the  author  does  not  know  the  name  of  the  fireman. 


A   DARING  DEED.  1 47 

The  next  day,  when  Fred  rode  into  Lebanon, 
the  first  man  that  he  saw  was  Mathews,  who  saun- 
tered up  to  him,  and  said  in  a  sarcastic  tone:  *'It 
seems,  young  man,  that  you  made  a  short  visit  to 
your  poor  sick  grandfather.  How  did  you  find  the 
old  gentleman?" 

Fred  shrugged  his  shoulders.  "I  changed  my 
mind,"  he  replied.  "I  did  n't  see  the  old  gentle- 
man; I  concluded  to  come  back.  Things  are  get- 
ting a  little  too  brisk  up  there  for  me.  Buckner 
has  advanced,  and  there  may  be  some  skirmishing 
around  Elizabethtown." 

"And  so  you  run,"  exclaimed  Mathews  in  a  tone 
which  made  Fred's  blood  boil.  All  of  this  time 
Mathews  had  been  carefully  looking  over  the  boy 
and  horse,  and  quite  a  crowd  had  collected  around 
them. 

"Ah!"  continued  Mathews;  "a  round  hole 
through  your  horse's  ear,  been  bleeding,  too; 
your  saddle  torn  by  a  bullet,  and  a  hole  through 
your  hat.  Boy,  you  had  better  give  an  account  of 
yourself." 

"Not  at  your  command,"  replied  Fred,  hotly. 
"And  I  deny  your  right  to  question  me." 

"You  do,  do  you,  my  fine  young  fellow?  I  will 
show  you,"  and  he  made  a  grab  for  Prince's  bridle. 

A  sharp,  quick  word  from  Fred,  and  the  horse 
sprang,  overthrowing  Mathews,  and  scattering  the 
crowd  right  and  left.  Mathews  arose,  shaking  the 
dust  from  his  clothes  and  swearing  like  a  trooper. 

A  fine-looking  man   had  just  ridden  up  to  the 


148  GENERAL   NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

crowd  as  the  incident  occurred.  He  looked  after 
the  flying  boy,  and  nervously  fingered  the  revolver 
in  his  holster.  Then  a  smile  came  over  his  face, 
and  he  spoke  to  Mathews,  who  was  still  swearing 
and  loudly  calling  for  a  horse  to  pursue  Fred. 
"No  use,  Jim;  you  might  as  well  chase  a  streak 
of  lightning.  That  is  the  fastest  horse  in  Ken- 
tucky." 

Mathews  looked  at  the  man  a  moment  in  sur- 
prise, and  then  exclaimed:  "Heavens!  Morgan, 
is  that  you?     How  came  you  here?" 

"Made  a  run  for  it  night  before  last,"  replied 
Morgan  with  a  laugh,  "to  keep  from  being  nabbed 
by  old  Thomas.  But  what  was  the  fuss  between 
you  and  that  boy?  I  wonder  what  he  was  doing 
out  here  any  way?  But,  Mathews,  he  did  upset 
you  nicely;  I  think  you  rolled  over  at  least  six 
times." 

"I  will  be  even  with  him  yet,"  growled 
Mathews. 

"Oh!  I  have  heard  half  a  dozen  men  say  that, 
myself  included.  But  let  's  hear  what  the  rumpus 
was  about." 

When  Morgan  heard  the  story,  he  said :  "So 
Buckner  is  at  Elizabethtown,  is  he?  Well,  that 
changes  my  plan.  I  was  going  to  Bowling  Green, 
but  now  I  will  change  my  course  to  Elizabethtown. 
But  I  would  like  to  know  what  that  boy  has  been 
doing.  From  what  you  say  he  must  have  been  in 
a  skirmish.  Trying  to  throw  a  train  off  the  track, 
perhaps;  it  would  be  just  like  him." 


A   DARING  DEED.  149 

"But,  Mathews,"  he  continued,  "the  boy  is 
gone,  so  let  us  talk  business.  I  am  going  to  raise 
a  regiment  of  cavalry  for  the  Confederate  service, 
and  I  want  you  to  raise  a  company." 

"That  I  will,  John,"  said  Mathews.  "There  is 
no  other  man  I  had  rather  ride  under." 

Fred  laughed  heartily  as  he  looked  back  and  saw 
Mathews  shaking  the  dust  from  himself.  Finding 
that  he  was  not  pursued  he  brought  Prince  down 
to  a  walk.  "I  could  almost  swear,"  he  said  to 
himself,  "that  I  caught  a  glimpse  of  Morgan  as  I 
dashed  through  the  crowd.  Thomas  surely  ought 
to  have  him  before  this  time.  I  wonder  what  it 
means." 

As  he  was  riding  through  Danville  he  met  his 
uncle,  Judge  Pennington,  who,  to  his  surprise, 
greeted  him  most  cordially,  and  would  insist  on  his 
stopping  a  while. 

"Where  have  you  been,  Fred?"  asked  the 
judge. 

"Over  towards  Elizabethtown  to  see  my  sick 
grandfather,"  replied  Fred,  gravely. 

"Fred,  what  do  you  mean?"  asked  his  uncle, 
somewhat  nettled. 

"Well,  uncle,  I  have  been  over  towards  Eliza- 
bethtown ostensibly  to  see  my  grandfather,  but 
really  to  see  what  I  could  find  over  there." 

"And  what  did  you  find?" 

"I  found  Buckner's  men  as  thick  as  hops,  and  I 
found  a  warm  reception  besides.  Look  here,"  and 
he  showed  his  uncle  the  hole  through  his  hat.      "If 


150  GENERAL   NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

you  will  go  out  and  look  at  Prince,  you  will  find  a 
hole  through  his  ear,  and  you  will  also  find  the  sad- 
dle torn  with  a  bullet.  Oh,  yes,  Buckner's  men 
were  glad  to  see  me ;  they  gave  me  a  warm  recep- 
tion." 

Judge  Pennington  looked  grave.  "Fred,  are 
you  telling  the  truth?" 

"Yes,  uncle." 

"What  did  they  fire  on  you  for?" 

"Oh,  I  side-tracked  one  of  their  trains." 

The  judge  looked  still  graver.  "Fred,"  said 
he,  "you  are  engaging  in  dangerous  business. 
Take  care,  or  you  will  hang  yet.  I  have  heard  of 
some  of  your  doings.      I  had  a  visitor  last  night." 

"What!   not  father,   surely!" 

"No,  John  H.   Morgan." 

"Then  it  was  he  I  saw  at  Lebanon.  I  could 
hardly  believe  it." 

"Why  not,  Fred?" 

"Because — because — I  thought — I  thought  he 
was  in  Lexington." 

"It  was  because,"  answered  the  judge,  severely, 
"that  you  thought  he  was  a  prisoner  at  Camp  Dick 
Robinson.  Ah,  Fred,  you  were  not  as  sharp  as 
you  thought.  You  foiled  their  plans;  but,  thank 
God!  they  have  all  escaped.  One  good  has  been 
accomplished.  All  pretense  of  neutrality  is  now  at 
an  end.  These  men  will  now  be  found  in  the  ranks, 
fighting  for  the  liberty  of  the  South.  As  for  Mor- 
gan, he  will  be  heard  from,  mark  my  word." 

"I   rather  like   Morgan,"  said   Fred.      "He  is  a 


A  DARING  DEED.  151 

daring  fellow,  and  sharp,  too ;  yes,  I  believe  he  will 
be  heard  from." 

"Fred,  Morgan  thinks  you  have  had  more  to 
do  with  finding  out  their  plans  than  any  other  one 
person." 

"Morgan  does  me  too  much  honor,"  replied 
Fred,  quietly. 

The  judge  remained  quiet  for  a  moment,  and 
then  said:  "My  boy,  I  wish  you  could  have  seen 
Morgan  before  you  had  so  thoroughly  committed 
yourself  to  the  other  side.  He  has  taken  a  great 
fancy  to  you.  He  believes  if  he  could  talk  with 
you,  you  might  be  induced  to  change  your  mind. 
He  says  in  the  kind  of  work  in  which  he  expects  to 
engage,  you  would  be  worth  a  brigade  of  men. 
Fred,  will  you,  will  you  not  think  of  this?  You 
are  breaking  our  hearts  with  your  course  now." 

"Dear  uncle,"  replied  Fred,  "I  thank  Morgan 
for  his  good  opinion,  and  I  reciprocate  his  opinion; 
for  of  all  the  men  I  have  met,  I  believe  he,  most  of 
all,  has  the  elements  of  a  dashing,  successful  leader. 
But  as  for  his  offer,  I  cannot  consider  it  for  a  mo- 
ment." 

The  judge  sighed,  and  Fred  saw  that  his  further 
presence  was  not  desirable,  so  he  made  his  adieus, 
and  rode  away. 

"So  Mr.  Morgan  wants  to  win  me  over," 
thought  Fred,  "and  that  was  the  reason  uncle  was 
so  nice.  I  think  this  last  scrape  has  burnt  the 
bridges  between  us,  and  they  will  trouble  me  no 
more." 


152  GENERAL  NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

Fred  made  his  report  to  General  Thomas,  who 
heard  it  with  evident  satisfaction, 

"This,  then,  was  your  idea,  Fred?" 

"Yes,  General,  I  in  some  way  conceived  the 
notion  that  Buckner  would  try  to  surprise  Louis- 
ville just  as  he  did  try  to  do.  I  knew  that  trains 
were  running  regularly  between  Nashville  and 
Louisville,  and  thought  that  a  surprise  could  be 
effected.  But  the  idea  was  so  vague  I  was  ashamed 
to  tell  you,  for  fear  of  exciting  ridicule.  So,  I  got 
my  leave  of  absence  and  stole  off,  and  if  nothing 
had  come  of  it,  no  one  would  have  been  the  wiser." 

General  Thomas  smiled,  and  said:  "It  was  an 
idea  worthy  of  a  great  general,  Fred.  General 
Anderson  has  much  to  thank  you  for,  as  well  as  the 
people  of  Louisville.  But  you  must  take  a  good 
rest  now,  both  you  and  your  horse.  From  appear- 
ances, I  think  it  will  not  be  many  days  before  Gen- 
eral ZoUicoffer  will  give  us  plenty  to  do." 


CHAPTER   IX. 

A   LEAP   FOR   LIFE. 

ON  October  7th  General  Anderson,  at  his  own 
request,  was  relieved  of  the  command  of  the 
Department  of  Kentucky,  on  account  of  continued 
ill-health.  The  next  day  General  W.  T.  Sherman, 
a  man  destined  to  fill  an  important  place  in  the  his- 
tory of  the  war,  was  appointed  to  the  position. 
Both  the  Federal  and  the  Confederate  governments 
had  now  thrown  aside  all  pretense  of  neutrality. 
Kentucky  echoed  to  the  martial  tread  of  armed  men. 

At  Maysville  under  General  Nelson,  at  Camp 
Dick  Robinson  under  General  Thomas,  at  Louis- 
ville under  General  Sherman,  and  at  Paducah  under 
General  Grant,  the  Federal  government  was  gather- 
ing its  hosts ;  while  the  Confederate  government 
with  its  troops  occupied  Columbus,  Bowling  Green, 
Cumberland  Gap,  and  the  mountains  of  eastern 
Kentucky.  General  Albert  Sydney  Johnston,  one 
of  the  ablest  of  the  Confederate  generals,  was  in 
supreme  command,  with  headquarters  at  Bowling 
Green. 

General  Zollicoffer  marched  from  Cumberland 
Gap  early  in  the  month,  and  assumed  offensive 
operations. 

IS3 


154  GENERAL  NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

When  General  Sherman  took  command,  Fred 
was  sent  by  General  Thomas  to  Louisville  with  dis- 
patches. General  Sherman  had  heard  of  some  of 
the  exploits  of  the  young  messenger,  and  he  was 
received  very  kindly.  Sherman,  at  that  time,  was 
in  the  prime  of  life.  Straight  as  an  arrow,  of  com- 
manding presence,  he  was  every  inch  a  soldier.  He 
was  quick  and  impulsive  in  his  actions,  and  to  Fred 
seemed  to  be  a  bundle  of  nerves.  In  conversation 
he  was  open  and  frank  and  expressed  his  opinion 
freely,  in  this  resembling  General  Nelson.  But  the 
rough,  overbearing  nature  of  Nelson  he  entirely 
lacked.      He  was  one  of  the  most  courteous  of  men. 

He  would  have  Fred  tell  of  some  of  his  exploits, 
and  when  he  gave  an  account  of  his  first  journey  to 
Louisville,  and  his  adventure  with  Captain  Con- 
way, the  general  was  greatly  pleased.  Fred's  ac- 
count of  how  he  discovered  the  details  of  the  plot 
at  Lexington  was  received  with  astonishment,  and 
he  was  highly  complimented.  But  the  climax  came 
when  he  told  of  how  he  had  thrown  the  train  from 
the  track,  and  thus  brought  Buckner's  intended 
surprise  to  naught.  The  general  jumped  up, 
grasped  Fred's  hand,  and  exclaimed: 

"That,  young  man,  calls  for  a  commission,  if  I 
can  get  you  one,  and  I  think  I  can." 

"General,"  replied  Fred,  "I  thank  you  very 
much,  but  I  do  not  wish  a  commission.  I  am  now 
comparatively  free.  It  is  true,  I  am  hired  privately 
by  General  Nelson,  and  if  I  understand  rightly  I 
am   getting  the   pay  of  a  lieutenant;   but  I  am  not 


A   LEAP  FOR  LIFE.  155 

bound  by  oath  to  serve  any  length  of  time,  neither 
could  I  have  accomplished  what  I  have  if  I  had 
been  a  regular  enlisted  soldier." 

"You  are  right,"  said  the  general.  "But  re- 
member, if  you  are  ever  in  need  of  any  favor,  do 
not  hesitate  to  call  on  me." 

This  Fred  readily  promised,  and  left  the  general, 
highly  elated  over  the  interview. 

Before  leaving  Louisville,  Fred  did  not  forget 
to  call  on  the  Vaughns,  He  found  Miss  Mabel 
well,  and  he  thought  her  more  beautiful  than  ever. 
A  sad,  pensive  look  on  her  face  but  added  to  her 
loveliness.  Only  the  day  before  she  had  bidden 
her  betrothed  farewell,  and  he  had  marched  to  the 
front  to  help  fight  the  battles  of  his  country.  As 
she  hung  weeping  around  his  neck,  he  pointed  to  a 
little  miniature  flag  pinned  on  his  breast — it  was 
the  same  flag  that  Mabel  wore  on  that  day  she  was 
beset  by  the  mob — and  said : 

"Dearest,  it  shall  be  worn  there  as  long  as  my 
heart  beats.  Never  shall  it  be  touched  by  a  trait- 
orous hand  as  long  as  I  live.  Every  time  I  look 
upon  it,  it  will  be  an  incentive  to  prove  worthy  of 
the  brave  girl  who  wore  it  on  her  breast  in  the  face 
of  a  brutal  mob." 

Then  with  one  fond  clasp  of  the  hands,  one  long 
lingering  kiss,  he  was  gone ;  and  to  Mabel  all  the 
light  and  joy  of  the  world  seemed  to  go  with  him. 

But  the  coming  of  Fred  brought  new  thoughts, 
and  for  the  time  her  eyes  grew  brighter,  her  cheeks 
rosier  and  laugh  happier.     The  bright,  brave  boy 


156  GENERAL   NELSON'S   SCOUT. 

who  saved  her  from  the  mob  was  very  welcome, 
and  to  her  he  was  only  a  boy,  a  precious,  darling 
boy. 

They  made  Fred  relate  his  adventures,  and  one 
minute  Mabel's  eyes  would  sparkle  with  fun,  and 
the  next  melt  in  tenderness.  In  spite  of  himself, 
Fred's  heart  beat  very  fast,  he  hardly  knew  why. 
But  when  he  told  with  trembling  voice  how  he  had 
parted  from  his  father,  and  how  he  had  been  dis- 
owned and  driven  from  home,  the  sympathy  of  the 
impulsive  girl  overcame  her,  and  with  eyes  swim- 
ming in  tears,  she  arose,  threw  her  arms  around 
him,  imprinted  a  kiss  on  his  forehead,  and  mur- 
mured: "Poor  boy!  poor  boy!"  Then  turning  to 
her  mother,  she  said,  "We  will  adopt  him,  won't 
we,  mother,  and  I  will  have  a  brother." 

Then  remembering  what  she  had  done,  she  re- 
tired blushing  and  in  confusion  to  her  seat.  That 
kiss  finished  Fred;  it  thrilled  him  through  and 
through.  Yet  somehow  the  thought  of  being  a 
brother  to  Mabel  did  n't  give  him  any  satisfaction. 
He  knew  Mabel  looked  upon  him  as  only  a  boy, 
and  the  thought  made  him  angry,  but  the  next  mo- 
ment he  was  ashamed  of  himself.  He  took  his 
leave,  promising  to  call  the  next  time  he  was  in  the 
city,  and  went  away  with  conflicting  emotions. 

Fred  was  really  suffering  from  an  attack  of  first 
love,  and  did  n't  know  it.  It  was  better  for  him 
that  he  did  n't,  for  it  was  the  sooner  forgotten. 

On  his  return  to  Camp  Dick  Robinson  Fred 
found  that  General  Thomas  had  advanced  some  of 


A   LEAP  FOR  LIFE.  157 

his  troops  toward  Cumberland  Gap.  Colonel  Gar- 
rard was  occupying  an  exposed  position  on  the 
Rock  Castle  Hills,  and  Fred  was  sent  to  him  with 
dispatches.  Fred  found  the  little  command  in  con- 
siderable doubt  over  the  movements  of  General 
Zollicoffer.  One  hour  the  rumor  would  be  that  he 
was  advancing,  and  the  next  hour  would  bring  the 
story  that  he  was  surely  retreating.  Colonel  Gar- 
rard feared  that  he  would  be  attacked  with  a  greatly 
superior  force. 

Fred  resolved  that  he  would  do  a  little  scouting 
on  his  own  account.  Colonel  Garrard  offered  to 
send  a  small  party  with  him,  but  Fred  declined  the 
offer,  saying  that  a  squad  would  only  attract  atten- 
tion, and  if  he  ran  into  danger  he  would  trust  to 
the  fleetness  of  his  horse  to  save  him. 

Riding  east,  he  made  a  wide  detour,  and  at  last 
came  to  where  he  thought  he  must  be  near  the 
enemy's  lines.  In  his  front  was  a  fine  plantation; 
near  by,  in  the  woods,  some  negroes  were  chop- 
ping. These  negroes  he  resolved  to  interview.  His 
appearance  created  great  consternation,  and  some 
of  them  dropped  their  axes,  and  looked  as  if  about 
to  run. 

"Don't  be  afraid,  boys,"  said  Fred,  kindly. 
"I  only  want  to  know  who  lives  in  yonder  house." 

"Massa  Johnson,  sah." 

"Is  he  at  home?" 

"Not  now,  sah;  he  down  to  Zollicoffer  camp." 

"Oh,  then  General  Zollicoffer  is  camped  near 
here?" 


158  GENERAL  NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

"Yes,  sah ;   'bout  two  mile  down  de  road." 

"Do  any  of  the  soldiers  ever  come  this  way?" 
queried  Fred. 

"Yes,  sah;  'bout  twenty  went  up  de  road  not 
mo'  than  two  hours  ago.  Den  a  capin  man,  he 
cum  to  see  Missy  Alice  most  ebber  day." 

"Thank  you,"  said  Fred,  as  he  rode  away.  "I 
think  I  will  pay  a  visit  to  Missy  Alice  myself." 

Riding  boldly  up  to  the  house,  he  dismounted. 
Before  entering  the  house  he  accosted  an  old  negro 
who  was  working  in  the  yard,  and  slipping  a  dollar 
into  his  hand,  said : 

"Uncle,  if  you  see  any  one  coming  either  way, 
will  you  cry,  'Massa,  your  horse  is  getting  away?' 

"Trus'  me  fo'  dat,"  said  the  old  man,  grinning 
from  ear  to  ear.  "I  jess  make  dat  hoss  jump,  and 
den  I  yell,  'Massa,  hoss  gittin'  way.' 

"That  's  it,  uncle,  you  are  all  right,"  and  Fred 
turned  and  went  into  the  house,  where  he  intro- 
duced himself  as  a  Mr.  Sandford,  from  Lexington. 
He  had  friends  in  Zollicoffer's  army,  and  had  run 
the  gauntlet  of  the  Federal  lines  to  visit  them. 
Could  they  tell  him  how  far  it  was  to  General 
Zollicoffer's  camp. 

The  ladies  received  him  coldly,  but  told  him 
the  distance.  But  Fred  was  not  to  be  repulsed. 
He  was  a  good  talker,  and  he  tried  his  best.  He 
told  them  the  news  of  the  outside  world,  and  what 
the  Yankees  were  doing,  and  how  they  would  soon 
be  driven  from  the  State.  This  at  once  endeared 
him  to  the  ladies,  especially  the  younger,  who  was 


A   LEAP  FOR  LIFE.  159 

a  most  pronounced  little  rebel.  Miss  Alice  was  a 
comely  girl,  somewhere  between  twenty  and 
twenty-five  years  of  age,  and  by  a  little  but  well 
directed  flattery  Fred  completely  won  her  confi- 
dence. She  inquired  after  some  acquaintances  in 
Lexington,  and  by  a  happy  coincidence  Fred  knew 
them,  and  the  conversation  became  animated. 

At  length  Fred  remarked:  "I  hope  it  will  not 
be  long  before  General  Zollicoffer  will  advance.  We 
are  getting  anxious  up  at  Lexington ;  we  want  to 
see  the  Yankees  driven  into  the  Ohio." 

"You   will   not  have  to  wait   long,"  replied  the 
girl.      "Captain   Conway   tells   me   they   are  about 

ready,  and  will  advance   on  the  20th  or  21st " 

she  stopped  suddenly,  bit  her  lip,  and  looked 
scared. 

In  all  probability  she  had  told  something  that 
Captain  Conway  had  told  her  to  keep  secret.  Fred 
did  not  appear  to  notice  her  confusion,  and  at  once 
said:  "Conway,  Conway,  Captain  Conway.  Is  it 
Captain  P.  C.  Conway  of  whom  you  speak?" 

"Yes,  sir,"  replied  the  girl,  brightening  up. 

"Why,  I  know  him,  know  him  like  a  book;  in 
fact,  we  are  old  friends — special  friends,  I  may  say. 
He  would  rejoice  to  find  me  here,"  and  then  he 
added  mentally,  "and  cut  my  throat." 

"A  brilliant  soldier,  and  a  brave  one,  is  Captain 
Conway,"  continued  Fred,  "and  if  he  is  given  an 
opportunity  to  distinguish  himself,  it  will  not  be 
long  before  it  will  be  Major  or  Colonel  Conway." 

This  praise   pleased   Miss  Alice  greatly,  and  she 


l6o  GENERAL   NELSON'S   SCOUT. 

informed  Fred  that  he  would  soon  have  the  pleas- 
ure of  meeting  his  friend;  that  she  expected  him 
every  moment. 

Fred  moved  somewhat  uneasily  in  his  chair. 
He  had  no  desire  to  meet  Captain  Conway,  and  he 
was  about  to  make  an  excuse  of  going  out  to  see 
how  his  horse  was  standing,  when  they  were 
startled  by  the  old  negro  running  toward  the  house 
and  yelling  at  the  top  of  his  voice:  "Massa, 
massa,  yo'  hoss  is  gittin'  away." 

The  sly  old  fellow  had  thrown  a  stone  at  Prince, 
and  the  horse  was  rearing  and  plunging. 

Fred  dashed  out  of  the  house;  a  party  of  horse- 
men was  coming  up  the  road,  in  fact,  was  nearly  to 
the  house.  It  was  but  the  work  of  a  moment  for 
Fred  to  unhitch  his  horse  and  vault  into  the  saddle, 
but  the  party  was  now  not  more  than  fifty  yards 
away.  At  the  head  rode  Captain  Conway.  They 
had  noticed  the  horse  hitched  at  the  gate,  and  were 
coming  at  full  speed  to  try  and  surprise  the  owner. 
The  moment  Conway  saw  Fred  he  knew  him. 

"Gods!"  he  cried,  "Fred  Shackelford,  what 
luck!"  and  snatched  a  pistol  from  the  holster  and 
fired.  The  ball  whistled  past  Fred's  head  harm- 
lessly, and  he  turned  in  the  saddle  and  returned  the 
fire.  It  was  the  first  time  he  had  ever  shot  at  a 
man,  and  even  in  the  heat  of  excitement  he  experi- 
enced a  queer  sensation,  a  sinking  of  the  heart,  as 
though  he  were  committing  a  crime. 

Fairly  and  squarely  the  ball  from  his  revolver 
struck  the   horse   of   Captain   Conway   in  the  fore- 


A   LEAP  FOR  LIFE.  l6l 

head,  and  the  animal  fell  dead,  the  rider  rolling  in 
the  dust. 

Immediately  all  was  excitement.  His  men 
stopped  the  pursuit,  and,  dismounting,  gathered 
around  the  captain,  thinking  he  was  killed. 

But  he  sprang  to  his  feet,  shouting:  "A  hun- 
dred dollars  to  the  one  who  will  take  that  young 
devil,  dead  or  alive.  Here,  Corporal  Smith,  you 
have  a  fleet  horse,  let  me  take  him,"  and  jumping 
into  the  saddle,  he  was  in  pursuit,  followed  by  all 
his  men,  except  Corporal  Smith,  who  stood  in  the 
road  looking  after  them. 

"What  does  it  mean?  What  does  it  mean?" 
asked  the  two  ladies,  who  stood  on  the  veranda, 
wringing  their  hands,  and  very  much  excited. 

"Blamed  if  I  know,"  answered  the  corporal. 
"The  sight  of  that  young  chap  seemed  to  make  the 
captain  kinder  crazy.  The  moment  he  caught  sight 
of  him,  he  called  him  by  name,  and  banged  away 
at  him." 

"You  say  the  captain  called  him  by  name?" 

"Yes." 

"Well,  he  said  he  knew  the  captain,  and  that  he 
was  one  of  his  best  friends.      I  can't  understand  it." 

The  corporal  had  no  explanation  to  offer,  so 
went  and  took  a  look  at  the  captain's  horse.  "Bang 
up  shot,"  he  remarked.  "Right  between  the 
eyes." 

In  the  meantime  the  pursued  and  the  pursuers 
had  passed  out  of  sight  up  the  road,  enveloped  in  a 
cloud  of  dust. 


r62  GENERAL   NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

"Remember,  boys,"  shouted  Conway,  "a  hun- 
dred dollars  to  the  one  who  brings  him  down. 
Don't  attempt  to  take  him  alive.  Shoot  him! 
shoot  him!" 

But  it  was  nothing  but  play  for  Fred  to  distance 
them,  and  he  laughed  to  think  that  they  expected 
to  catch  him.  But  the  laugh  suddenly  died  on  his 
lips;  he  turned  pale,  and  glanced  hurriedly  to  the 
right  and  left.  A  high  rail  fence  ran  on  each  side 
of  the  road.  The  scouting  party  of  which  the 
negroes  spoke  was  returning.  Fred  was  between 
the  two  parties. 

Captain  Conway  saw  the  other  party,  and 
shouted  in  triumph. 

"Now,  boys,  we  have  him,"  and  he  spurred  his 
horse  forward,  revolver  in  hand.  There  was  a  look 
of  malignant  hatred  on  his  face,  and  he  muttered : 
"Now,  my  boy,  I  will  settle  scores  with  you.  I 
shall  never  take  you  back  to  camp.  'Captured  a 
spy,  killed  while  trying  to  escape.'  Ha!  ha!  how 
will  that  sound !" 

As  for  Fred,  even  in  his  extremity,  his  courage 
or  his  presence  of  mind  never  deserted  him.  He 
felt  that  to  be  captured  by  Conway  was  death,  for 
had  not  the  captain  sworn  to  kill  him  on  sight? 
His  mind  was  made  up;  he  would  wheel  and 
charge  the  captain's  party.  He  would  at  least  die 
fighting.  Just  as  he  was  about  to  do  this,  he  espied 
an  opening  in  the  fence  on  the  left.  As  quick  as 
thought  he  dashed  through  it,  thinking  it  might 
afford  a  chance  of  escape.      Too  late  he  saw  his  mis- 


A   LEAP  FOR  LIFE.  163 

take.  The  field  was  a  perfect  cul-de-sac,  bounded 
on  all  sides  by  a  high  rail  fence,  the  only  opening 
the  one  he  had  come  through. 

Through  this  opening  the  enemy  poured,  and 
when  they  saw  the  trap  which  Fred  had  entered, 
their  shouts  made  the  welkin  ring.  They  were  sure 
of  their  prey.  Their  shouts  rang  in  Fred's  ears  like 
the  tolling  of  a  funeral  bell.  So  must  the  bay  of 
hounds  sound  in  the  ears  of  the  hunted  quarry. 

Fred  looked  at  the  fence  ahead  of  him.  It  was 
built  of  heavy  rails,  and  full  seven  feet  high.  He 
rode  straight  for  it.  Bending  over  his  horse's 
neck,  Fred  said:  "Prince,  it  is  a  question  of  life  or 
death.      Do  your  best,  old  fellow;  we  can  but  fail." 

The  horse  seemed  to  understand.  He  never 
faltered,  never  swerved.  With  distended  nostrils, 
eyes  flashing  with  excitement,  and  every  muscle 
quivering,  he  gathered  himself  for  the  mighty 
spring.  As  lightly  as  a  bird  he  cleared  the  fence, 
staggered  as  he  struck  the  ground  on  the  other  side, 
then  on  again  like  the  wind. 

Fred  turned  in  his  saddle,  and  uttered  a  yell  of 
defiance. 

"Fire!"  shrieked  Conway.  But  the  hands  of  his 
troopers  were  unsteady,  and  the  shots  went  wild. 
Before  his  men  could  dismount  and  throw  down 
the  fence,  Fred  was  beyond  pursuit.  Captain  Con- 
way fairly  foamed  at  the  mouth.  He  raved  and 
swore  like  a  madman. 

"It  's  no  use  swearing,  Captain,"  said  a  grizzled 
lieutenant.      "I   thought   I  knew  something  about 


164  GENERAL   NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

horses,  but  that  beat  any  leap  I  ever  saw.  Gad! 
I  would  rather  have  the  horse  than  the  boy." 

"Howly  Virgin!  it  's  the  divil's  own  lape,"  said 
an  Irishman  in  the  company,  and  he  crossed  him- 
self. 

The  baffled  troopers  returned  crestfallen  and 
cross.  Captain  Conway  was  so  out  of  temper  that 
even  when  the  ladies  asked  him  if  his  fall  hurt  him, 
he  answered  angrily, 

"Captain,"  said  Alice,  somewhat  rufifled  by  his 
manner,  "what  is  it  between  that  boy  and  you? 
He  said  he  knew  you,  was  in  fact  a  dear  friend  of 
yours,  but  you  no  sooner  saw  him  than  you  shot  at 
him ;  and  Corporal  Smith  says  you  called  him  by 
name,  so  you  did  know  him." 

"Alice,"  replied  the  captain,  "I  do  not  intend 
to  be  rude,  but  I  am  all  put  out.  That  boy  is 
a  spy,  a  mean,  sneaking  spy.  He  should  be 
hanged.  It  was  he  that  discovered  our  plot  at 
Lexington." 

The  girl  held  up  her  hands  in  dismay.  "And  I 
told  him "     She  stopped  suddenly. 

"Told  him  what?"  demanded  Conway. 

'*0h!  nothing,  nothing;  only  what  a  good  fel- 
low you  were." 

The  captain  looked  at  her  sharply,  and  said : 
"It  is  well  you  gave  away  no  secrets." 

Fred  made  his  way  back  to  camp  with  a  thank- 
ful heart.  He  told  Colonel  Garrard  of  the  in- 
tended attack,  and  then  started  back  for  the  head- 
quarters  of   General   Thomas.      It  was  a  long  and 


A   LEAP  FOR  LIFE.  165 

hard  ride,  and  it  was  well  in  the  small  hours  of  the 
night  when  he  arrived.  The  general  was  aroused 
and  the  news  of  the  expected  attack  told.  He 
quietly  wrote  a  couple  of  orders,  and  went  back  to 
his  bed.  One  order  was  to  General  Schoepf  to  at 
once  march  his  brigade  to  the  relief  of  Colonel 
Garrard  at  Rock  Castle.  The  other  was  sent  to 
Colonel  Connell  at  Big  Hill  to  move  his  regiment  to 
Rock  Castle,  instead  of  advancing  toward  London 
as  ordered. 

Both  orders  were  obeyed,  and  both  commands 
were  in  position  on  the  20th.  General  ZoUicof^er 
made  his  expected  attack  on  the  21st,  and  was 
easily  repulsed.  The  battle  was  a  small  one;  noth- 
ing but  a  skirmish  it  would  have  been  called  after- 
wards ;  but  to  the  soldiers  engaged  at  that  time,  it 
looked  like  a  big  thing.  It  greatly  encouraged  the 
Federal  soldiers,  and  correspondingly  depressed  the 
soldiers  of  Zollicoffer's  army. 

Fred  got  back  to  Rock  Castle  in  time  to  see  the 
battle.  It  was  his  first  sight  of  dead  and  wounded 
soldiers.  And  as  he  looked  on  the  faces  of  the 
dead,  their  sightless  eyes  upturned  to  heaven,  and 
the  groans  of  the  wounded  sounding  in  his  ears,  he 
turned  sick  at  heart,  and  wondered  why  men  cre- 
ated in  the  image  of  God  would  try  to  kill  and 
maim  each  other.  And  yet,  a  few  moments  before, 
he  himself  was  wild  with  the  excitement  of  battle, 
and  could  scarcely  be  restrained  from  rushing 
into  it. 

The   next   day  the   army  advanced,  and  passed 


1 66  GENERAL   NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

the  place  where  Fred  met  with  his  adventure,  and 
he  thought  he  would  make  another  visit  to  Miss 
Alice  Johnson.  But  that  young  lady  gave  him  a 
cold  reception.  She  called  him  a  "miserable, 
sneaking  Yankee,"  and  turned  her  back  on  him  in 
disgust.  He  did  n't  hear  the  last  of  his  call  on  Miss 
Johnson. 

Fred  pointed  out  the  place  where  his  horse  had 
leaped  the  fence,  and  ofBcers  and  men  were  aston- 
ished, and  Prince  became  as  much  a  subject  of 
praise  as  his  rider.  It  was  a  common  saying  among 
the  soldiers  as  he  rode  by,  "There  goes  the  smart- 
est boy  and  best  horse  in  Kentucky." 

When  Fred  returned  to  Camp  Dick  Robinson, 
he  found  a  letter  awaiting  him  from  General  Nel- 
son. The  general  was  making  a  campaign  against 
a  portion  of  the  command  of  General  Humphrey 
Marshall  in  the  mountains  of  Eastern  Kentucky, 
and  wrote  that  if  Fred  could  possibly  come  to  him 
to  do  so. 

"Of  course;  go  at  once,"  said  General  Thomas, 
when  the  letter  was  shown  him.  "I  am  sorry  to 
lose  you,  but  I  think  Zollicoffer  will  be  rather  quiet 
for  a  while,  and  General  Nelson  has  the  first  claim 
on  you.  I  shall  always  be  grateful  to  you  for  the 
service  you  have  rendered  me.  I  trust  that  it  is 
but  the  beginning  of  still  closer  relations  in  the 
future." 

It  was  fated  that  General  Thomas  and  Fred  were 
to  be  much  together  before  the  war  closed. 


CHAPTER  X. 

IN  THE  HANDS  OF  THE  ENEMY. 

TO  his  dismay,  Fred  noticed  that  the  letter  of 
General  Nelson  was  dated  the  loth  of  Octo- 
ber, and  it  was  now  the  last  of  the  month.  For 
some  reason  the  letter  had  been  greatly  delayed. 

It  was  known  that  Nelson  was  already  in  the 
mountains  of  Eastern  Kentucky;  therefore  no 
time  was  to  be  lost  if  Fred  joined  him.  Much  to 
his  regret,  Fred  had  to  leave  Prince  behind.  After- 
wards he  blessed  his  stars  that  he  did,  for  If  he  had 
taken  the  horse  he  would  have  lost  him  forever. 

Fred  traveled  to  Cincinnati  by  rail,  and  then  by 
boat  up  the  Ohio  to  Maysville.  He  found  that 
Nelson  had  not  only  been  gone  from  Maysville  for 
some  days,  but  that  there  was  no  direct  line  of 
communication  with  his  army.  Nothing  daunted, 
he  determined  to  follow,  and  procuring  a  horse,  he 
started  on  his  journey  alone  and  unattended,  and 
against  the  advice  of  the  officer  in  command  at 
Maysville. 

"Wait,"  said  that  officer,  "until  we  send  for- 
ward a  train.  It  will  be  strongly  guarded,  and  you 
will  escape  all  danger  of  capture." 

But  Fred  would  not  wait.  He  believed  it  to  be 
167 


l68  GENERAL  NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

his  duty  to  join  Nelson  as  soon  as  possible.  By 
hard  riding,  he  reached  Hazel  Green  on  the  even- 
ing of  the  second  day,  and  without  adventure. 
Here  he  learned  that  Nelson's  command  had  left 
the  place  only  two  days  before,  and  was  now  sup- 
posed to  be  at  or  near  Prestonburg,  and  there  were 
rumors  of  fighting  at  that  place. 

The  next  morning  Fred  pressed  forward  in  high 
spirits,  thinking  he  would  overtake  at  least  the  rear 
of  Nelson's  army  by  night.  Along  in  the  after- 
noon four  cavalrymen  suddenly  confronted  him, 
blocking  the  road. 

As  they  all  had  on  the  blue  Federal  overcoat, 
Fred  had  not  the  remotest  idea  but  that  they  be- 
longed to  Nelson's  army,  and  riding  boldly  up  to 
them  asked  how  far  the  command  was  in  advance. 

"What  command?"  asked  one  of  the  party,  who 
appeared  to  be  the  leader. 

"Why,  Nelson's  command,  of  course,"  replied 
Fred,  in  surprise.  But  the  words  were  hardly  out 
of  his  mouth  before  four  revolvers  were  leveled  on 
him,  and  he  was  commanded  to  surrender.  There 
was  no  alternative  but  to  submit  as  gracefully  as 
possible. 

"Now,  boys,"  said  the  leader,  "we  will  see 
what  we  have  captured.      Examine  him." 

It  must  be  borne  in  mind  that  Fred  was  dressed 
in  civilian  clothes,  and  therefore  could  not  be  taken 
prisoner  as  a  soldier. 

The  soldiers,  after  going  through  his  pockets, 
handed  the  contents  to  their  leader. 


IN   THE  HANDS   OF   THE  ENEMT.  169 

"Ah,"  said  that  personage  with  a  wicked  grin, 
"young  man,  you  may  go  along  with  us  to  Colonel 
Williams.  For  aught  I  know,  these  letters  may 
hang  you,"  and  filing  off  from  the  Prestonburg 
road,  they  took  a  rough  mountain  road  for  Piketon. 

Fred  afterward  found  that  the  four  soldiers  were 
a  scouting  party  that  had  got  in  the  rear  of  Nel- 
son's army  in  the  hopes  of  picking  up  some  strag- 
glers, their  only  reward  being  himself.  As  was 
said,  the  party  consisted  of  four.  The  leader.  Cap- 
tain Bascom,  was  a  hooked-nosed,  ferret-eyed  man, 
who  frequently  took  deep  draughts  from  a  canteen 
containing  what  was  familiarly  known  as  "moun- 
tain dew" — whisky  distilled  by  the  rough  moun- 
taineers. Being  half-drunk  all  the  time  added 
intensity  to  a  naturally  cruel,  tyrannical  disposi- 
tion. 

One  of  the  soldiers  named  Drake  was  a  burly, 
red-faced  fellow,  who  seemed  to  be  a  boon  compan- 
ion of  the  captain  ;  at  least  one  took  a  drink  as  often 
as  the  other.  Another  of  the  soldiers  answered  to 
the  name  of  Lyle ;  he  was  a  gloomy,  taciturn  man, 
and  said  little.  The  remaining  one  of  Fred's  cap- 
tors was  a  mere  boy,  not  older  than  himself.  He 
was  a  bright-eyed,  intelligent  looking  fellow,  tough 
and  muscular,  and  from  his  conversation  vastly 
above  the  station  in  life  of  his  comrades  before  he 
enlisted.  It  was  not  long  before  Fred  discovered 
that  Captain  Bascom  took  delight  in  worrying  the 
boy,  whose  name  was  Robert  Ferror.  In  this  he 
was  followed  to  a  greater  or  less  extent  by  Drake. 


170  GENERAL   NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

Not  only  this,  but  when  they  stopped  for  the 
night  at  the  rude  home  of  a  mountaineer,  Fred 
noticed  that  Bob,  as  all  called  him,  was  the  drudge 
of  the  party.  He  not  only  had  to  care  for  the  cap- 
tain's horse,  but  to  perform  menial  service,  even  to 
cleaning  the  mud  from  the  captain's  boots.  As  he 
was  doing  this.  Bob  caught  Fred  looking  at  him, 
and  coloring  to  the  roots  of  his  hair,  he  trembled 
violently.  It  was  evident  that  he  felt  himself  de- 
graded by  his  work,  but  seeing  a  look  of  pity  in 
Fred's  eyes,  he  fiercely  whispered,  "My  mother's 
niggers  used  to  do  this  for  me,"  and  then  he  cast 
such  a  look  of  hate  on  Captain  Bascom  that  Fred 
shuddered.      There  was  murder  in  that  look. 

It  was  not  until  the  evening  of  the  second  day 
of  his  capture  that  Piketon  was  reached.  Along  in 
the  afternoon,  away  to  the  left,  firing  was  heard, 
and  every  now  and  then,  the  deep  boom  of  can- 
non reverberated  through  the  valleys  and  gorges. 
Nelson  was  advancing  on  Piketon.  It  made  Fred 
sick  at  heart  to  think  that  his  friends  were  so  near, 
and  yet  so  far. 

The  knowledge  that  the  Confederates  were  being 
driven  seemed  to  anger  Bascom,  and  he  drank 
oftener  than  usual.  Noticing  that  Bob  was  talking 
to  Fred  as  they  were  riding  along,  he  turned  back 
and  struck  the  boy  such  a  cruel  blow  in  the  face 
that  he  was  knocked  from  his  horse. 

By  order  of  Bascom,  Drake  and  Lyle  dis- 
mounted, picked  Bob  up,  wiped  the  blood  from 
his   face,  and   after   forcing  some  whisky  down   his 


IN   THE  HANDS    OF   THE  ENEMY.  171 

throat,  placed  him  on  his  horse.  At  first  he 
seemed  dazed  and  could  not  guide  his  horse.  He 
gradually  came  to  himself,  and  when  he  looked  at 
Bascom  Fred  saw  that  same  murderous  look  come 
over  his  face  which  he  had  noticed  once  before. 
"Bascom  has  cause  to  fear  that  boy,"  thought 
JFred. 

When  the  party  rode  into  Piketon  they  found 
everything  in  the  utmost  confusion.  Preparations 
were  being  made  to  evacuate  the  place.  The  sol- 
diers who  had  been  in  the  fight  came  streaming 
back,  bringing  with  them  their  wounded  and  a  few 
prisoners.  They  reported  thousands  and  thousands 
of  Yankees  coming.  This  added  to  the  confusion 
and  the  demoralization  of  the  troops. 

The  prisoners  were  thrown,  for  the  night,  in 
a  building  used  as  a  jail.  It  was  of  hewn  logs, 
without  windows  or  doors,  being  entered  through 
the  roof,  access  being  had  to  the  roof  by  an  outside 
stairway,  then  by  a  ladder  down  in  the  inside. 
When  all  were  down,  the  ladder  was  drawn  up,  and 
the  opening  in  the  roof  closed.  The  place  was  in- 
describably filthy,  and  Fred  always  wondered  how 
he  lived  through  the  night.  When  morning  came 
and  the  ladder  was  put  down  for  them  to  ascend, 
each  and  every  one  thanked  the  Lord  the  rebels 
were  to  retreat,  and  that  their  stay  in  the  noisome 
hole  was  thus  ended.  With  gratitude  they  drank 
in  mouthfuls  of  the  fresh  air. 

The  whole  place  was  in  a  frenzy  of  excitement. 
Commissary    stores    they    were    not    able   to  carry 


172  GENERAL   NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

away  were  given  to  the  flames.  Every  moment 
the  advance  of  Nelson's  army  was  expected.  But 
as  time  passed,  and  no  army  appeared  the  panic 
somewhat  subsided  and  something  Hke  order  was 
restored. 

That  night,  the  retreating  army  camped  in  a 
pine  forest  at  the  base  of  a  mountain.  The  night 
was  cold  and  rainy.  Black  clouds  swept  across  the 
sky,  the  wind  howled  mournfully  through  the 
forest,  and  the  cold  pitiless  rain  chilled  to  the  bone. 
Huge  fires  were  kindled,  and  around  them  the  men 
gathered  to  dry  their  streaming  clothes  and  to  warm 
their  benumbed  limbs. 

Just  before  the  prisoners  were  made  to  lie  down 
to  sleep,  the  boy,  Robert  Ferror,  passed  by  Fred, 
and  said  in  a  low  whisper: 

"I  will  be  on  guard  to-night.  Keep  awake! 
Lie  down  near  the  guard." 

Fred's  heart  beat  high.  Was  Robert  Ferror 
going  to  aid  him  to  escape?  He  watched  where 
the  guard  over  the  prisoners  was  stationed,  and  lay 
down  as  close  to  him  as  possible.  Soon  he  was 
apparently  fast  asleep,  but  he  was  never  wider 
awake.  At  eleven  o'clock  Robert  Ferror  came  on 
guard.  He  looked  eagerly  around,  and  Fred,  to 
show  him  where  he  was  slightly  raised  his  head. 
The  boy  smiled,  and  placed  his  finger  on  his  lips. 
Slowly  Ferror  paced  his  beat,  to  and  fro.  The 
minutes  dragged  slowly  by.  Midnight  came.  The 
ofificer  of  the  guard  made  his  rounds.  Ferror's 
answer   was,    "All    is  well."      Another  half-hour 


IN   THE  HANDS   OF   THE  ENEMT.  1 73 

passed;  still  he  paced  to  and  fro.  Fred's  heart 
sank.  After  all,  was  Ferror  to  do  nothing,  or  were 
his  words  a  hoax  to  raise  false  hopes?  The  camp 
had  sunk  to  rest;  the  fires  were  burning  low.  Then 
as  Ferror  passed  Fred,  he  slightly  touched  him 
with  his  foot.  Instantly  Fred  was  all  alert.  The 
next  time  Ferror  passed  he  stooped  as  if  he  had 
dropped  something,  and  as  he  was  fumbling  on  the 
ground,  whispered: 

"Crawl  back  like  a  snake.  About  fifty  yards 
to  the  rear  is  a  large  pine  tree.  It  is  out  of  the 
range  of  the  light  of  the  fires.  By  it  you  will  find 
arms.      Stay  there  until  I  come." 

Again  the  sentinel  paced  to  and  fro.  It  would 
have  taken  a  lynx's  eye  to  have  noticed  that  one  of 
the  prisoners  was  missing,  so  silently  had  Fred 
made  his  way  back. 

One  o'clock  came,  and  Ferror  was  relieved. 
Five,  ten,  fifteen  minutes  passed,  and  still  Fred 
was  waiting.  Had  anything  happened  to  Ferror? 
there  had  been  no  alarm. 

"I  will  wait  a  little  longer,"  thought  Fred, 
'  *  and  then  if  he  does  not  come,  I  will  go  by  myself. ' ' 

Soon  a  light  footstep  was  heard,  and  Fred 
whispered,   "Here." 

A  hand  was  stretched  out,  and  Fred  took  it.  It 
was  as  cold  as  death,  and  shook  like  one  with  the 
palsy.      "He  is  quaking  with  fear,"  thought  Fred. 

"Have  you  got  the  revolver  and  cartridge  belt?" 
asked  Ferror,  in  a  hoarse  whisper. 

"Yes." 


1 74  GENERAL  NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

"Then  come."  He  still  seemed  to  be  quaking 
as  with  ague. 

Silently  Ferror  led  the  way,  Fred  following. 
Slowly  feeling  their  way  through  the  darkness,  they 
had  gone  some  distance  when  they  were  suddenly 
commanded  to  halt. 

"Who  comes  there?"  asked  a  stern  voice.  Fer- 
ror gave  a  start  of  surprise,  and  then  answered : 

"A  friend  with  the  countersign." 

"Advance,  friend,  and  give  the  countersign." 

Ferror  boldly  advanced,  leaned  forward  as  if  to 
whisper  the  word  in  the  ear  of  the  guard.  Then 
there  was  a  flash,  a  loud  report,  and  with  a  moan 
the  soldier  sank  to  the  ground. 

"Come,"  shrieked  Ferror,  and  Fred,  horrified, 
sprang  forward.  Through  the  woods,  falling  over 
rocks,  running  against  trees,  they  dashed,  until  at 
last  they  had  to  stop  from  sheer  exhaustion. 

The  camp  was  in  a  wild  commotion.  Shouts 
and  oaths  filled  the  air.  Men  were  heard  crashing 
through  the  forest,  escaping  as  they  thought  from 
an  unseen  foe.  But  when  no  attack  came,  and  no 
other  shot  was  heard,  the  confusion  and  excite- 
ment began  to  abate,  and  every  one  was  asking, 
"What  is  it?"      No  one  knew. 

"The  sound  of  the  shot  came  from  that  direc- 
tion," said  the  soldier  who  had  taken  the  place  of 
Ferror  as  guard. 

"There  is  where  I  stationed  Drake,"  said  the 
officer  of  the  guard.  "I  discovered  a  path  leading 
up   the   mountain,  and    I   concluded  to  post  a  sen- 


IN    THE  HANDS    OF   THE  ENEMT.  175 

tinel  on  it.  Sergeant,  make  a  detail,  and  come 
with  me." 

The  detail  was  made,  and  they  filed  out  in  the 
darkness  in  the  direction  that  Drake  was  stationed. 

"We  must  have  gone  far  enough,"  said  the 
officer.  "It  was  about  here  I  stationed  him.  Drake! 
Drake!"     There  was  no  response. 

"Strange!"  said  the  officer.  "It  is  not  possible 
he  has  deserted,  is  it?" 

He  was  groping  around  when  he  stumbled  over 
something  on  the  ground.  He  reached  out  his 
hand,  and  touched  the  lifeless  body  of  Drake.  A 
cry  of  horror  burst  from  him.  The  body  was  taken 
up  and  carried  back  to  camp.  The  officer  bent 
over  and  examined  it  by  the  firelight. 

"Shot  through  the  heart,"  he  muttered;  "and, 
by  heavens !  his  clothes  are  powder  burned.  Drake 
was  shot  not  by  some  prowler,  but  by  some  one 
inside  the  lines.      Sergeant,  count  the  prisoners." 

The  prisoners,  who  had  all  been  aroused  by  the 
commotion,  were  huddled  together,  quaking  with 
fear. 

The  sergeant  soon  reported:  "Lieutenant, 
there  is  one  missing;   the  boy  in  citizen's  clothes." 

Colonel  Williams,  who  had  been  looking  on  with 
stern  countenance,  now  asked: 

"Who  was  guarding  the  prisoners?"  The  colo- 
nel's tones  were  low  and  ominous. 

"Scott,  sir,"  replied  the  sergeant  of  the  guard. 

"Scott,  here!"  Poor  Scott  came  trembling  in 
every  limb. 


176  GENERAL   NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

"Colonel,"  said  Scott,  shaking  so  he  could 
hardly  talk,  "before  God,  I  know  nothing  about 
the  escape  of  the  prisoner.  I  had  not  been  on 
guard  more  than  ten  or  fifteen  minutes  before  the 
shot  was  fired.  Up  to  that  time,  not  a  prisoner 
had  stirred." 

"Did  you  notice  the  boy?" 

"No,  Colonel,  I  did  not.  I  do  not  know 
whether  he  escaped  before  I  came  on  guard  or 
after  the  alarm.  The  sergeant  will  bear  me  wit- 
ness that  during  the  alarm  I  stayed  at  my  post  and 
kept  the  prisoners  from  escaping.  The  boy  might 
have  slipped  away  in  the  confusion,  but  I  do  not 
think  he  did." 

"Whom  did  you  relieve?"  asked  the  colonel. 

"Robert  Ferror." 

"Call  Ferror," 

The  sergeant  soon  returned  with  the  information 
that  Ferror  could  not  be  found. 

The  colonel  bit  his  lip.  He  cast  his  eye  over 
the  group  of  ofificers  standing  around  him,  and  then 
suddenly  asked:      "Where  is  Captain  Bascom?" 

The  ofificers  looked  blank,  then  inquiringly  into 
each  other's  faces.  No  one  had  seen  him  during- 
or  since  the  alarm. 

The  sergeant  of  the  guard  hurriedly  went  to  a 
rude  tent  where  the  captain  slept.  Pulling  aside  a 
blanket  which  served  as  a  door  he  entered  the  tent. 
A  moment,  and  he  reappeared  with  face  as  white  as 
a  sheet. 


IN   THE  HANDS   OF   THE  ENEMY.  177 

"He  is  dead!"  his  ashen  hps  shaped  the  words, 
but  they  died  away  in  a  gurgle  in  his  throat. 

Captain  Bascom  had  been  stabbed  through 
the  heart. 

The  whole  turmoil  in  camp  was  heard  by  Fred 
and  Robert  Ferror,  as  they  stood  panting  for 
breath.  Fred  shuddered  as  the  horrified  cry  of  the 
officer  of  the  day  was  borne  to  his  ears  when  he 
stumbled  on  the  dead  body  of  the  guard.  The 
boys  were  bruised  and  bleeding,  and  their  clothing 
was  torn  in  shreds  from  their  flight  through  the 
forest. 

"It  is  all  right  now,"  said  Ferror.  "They  can 
never  find  us  in  the  darkness,  but  some  of  the 
frightened  fools  may  come  as  far  as  this ;  so  we  had 
better  be  moving." 

The  boys  slowly  and  painfully  worked  their  way 
up  the  mountain,  and  at  last  the  roar  of  the  camp 
was  no  longer  heard.  They  came  to  a  place  where 
the  jutting  rocks  formed  a  sort  of  a  cave,  keeping 
out  the  rain,  and  the  ground  and  leaves  were  com- 
paratively dry.  The  place  was  also  sheltered  from 
the  wind. 

"Let  us  stay  here,"  said  Fred,  "until  it  gets  a 
little  light.  We  can  then  more  easily  make  our 
way.      We  are  entirely  out  of  danger  for  to-night." 

To  this  Ferror  assented,  and  the  two  boys  crept 
as  far  back  as  they  could  and  snuggled  down  close 
together.  Fred  noticed  that  Ferror  still  trembled, 
and  that  his  hands  were  still  as  cold  as  ice. 


178  GENERAL   NELSON'S   SCOUT. 

The  storm  had  ceased,  but  the  wind  sobbed 
and  moaned  through  the  trees  Hke  a  thing  of  life, 
sighing  one  moment  Hke  a  person  in  anguish,  and 
then  wailing  like  a  lost  soul.  An  owl  near  by 
added  its  solemn  hootings  to  the  already  dismal 
night.  Fred  felt  Ferror  shudder  and  try  to  creep 
still  closer  to  him.  Both  boys  remained  silent  for 
a  long  time,  but  at  length  Fred  said: 

''Ferror,  shooting  that  sentinel  was  awful.  I 
had  almost  rather  have  remained  a  prisoner.  It 
was  too  much  like  murder."' 

"I  did  not  know  the  sentinel  was  there,"  an- 
swered Ferror,  "or  I  could  have  avoided  him.  As 
it  was,  it  had  to  be  done.  It  was  a  case  of  life  or. 
death.  Fred,  do  you  know  who  the  sentinel 
was?" 

"No." 

"It  was  Drake;  I  saw  his  face  by  the  flash  of 
my  pistol,  just  for  a  second,  but  it  was  enough. 
God!   I  can  see  it  now,"  and  he  shuddered. 

"Fred,  do  you  despise  me?  You  know  I 
helped  you  to  escape." 

"No,  Ferror;  if  I  had  been  in  your  place,  I 
might  have  done  the  same,  but  that  would  have 
made  it  none  the  less  horrible." 

"Fred,  you  will  despise  me;  but  I  must  tell 
you." 

"Tell  what?" 

"Drake  is  not  the  first  man  I  have  killed  to- 
night." 

Fred    sprang    up   and   involuntarily   drew  away 


IN   THE  HANDS   OF   THE  ENEMT.  179 

from  him.  "Ferror!  Ferror!  What  do  you 
mean?" 

"After  I  was  relieved  from  guard,  and  before  I 
joined  you,  I  stabbed  Captain  Bascom  through  the 
heart." 

A  low  cry  of  horror  escaped  Fred's  lips. 

"Listen  to  my  story,  Fred,  and  then  despise  me 
as  a  murderer  if  you  will.  You  saw  how  Captain 
Bascom  treated  me.  No  slave  was  ever  treated 
worse.  My  mother  is  a  widow,  residing  in  Tazewell 
county,  Virginia.  I  am  an  only  son,  but  I  have 
two  lovely  sisters.  I  was  always  headstrong,  lik- 
ing my  own  way.  Of  course,  I  was  humored  and 
petted.  When  the  war  broke  out  I  was  determined 
to  enlist.  My  mother  and  sisters  wept  and  prayed, 
and  at  last  I  promised  to  wait.  But  about  two 
months  ago  I  was  down  at  Abingdon,  and  was 
asked  to  take  a  glass  of  wine.  I  think  it  was 
drugged,  for  when  I  came  to  myself  I  found  that  I 
was  an  enlisted  soldier.  Worse  than  all,  I  found 
that  this  man  Bascom  was  an  officer  in  the  com- 
pany to  which  I  belonged.  Bascom  is  a  low-lived, 
drunken  brute.  He  used  to  live  in  our  neighbor- 
hood. Mother  had  him  arrested  for  theft  and  sent 
to  jail.  When  he  got  out,  he  left  the  neighbor- 
hood, but  swore  he  would  have  revenge  on  every 
I  one  of  the  name.  He  surely  has  had  it  on  me.  I 
think  he  was  in  hopes  that  by  brutal  treatment  he 
could  make  me  desert,  so  he  could  have  me  shot  if 
captured.  When  he  struck  me  the  other  day,  when 
I  spoke  to  you,  I  resolved  then  and  there  to  kill  him. ' ' 


l8o  GENERAL   NELSON'S   SCOUT. 

"I  know,"  replied  Fred,  in  a  low  tone.  "I 
saw  it  in  your  face." 

"God  only  knows  what  I  have  suffered  from  the 
hands  of  that  man  during  the  last  two  months.  I 
have  had  provocation  enough  to  kill  him  a  thousand 
times." 

"I  know,  I  know,"  replied  Fred;  "but  to  kill 
him  in  his  sleep.  I  would  not  have  blamed  you  if 
you  had  shot  him  down  when  he  gave  you  that 
blow.      I  should  have  done  so." 

"It  would  have  been  best,"  sobbed  Ferror,  for 
the  first  time  giving  way  to  his  feelings.  "Oh, 
mother,  what  will  you  think  of  your  boy!"  Then 
he  said,  chokingly:  "Fred,  don't  desert  me, 
don't  despise  me;  I  can't  bear  it.  I  believe  if 
you  turn  from  me  now,  I  shall  become  one  of  the 
most  desperate  of  criminals." 

"No,  Ferror,"  said  Fred;  "I  will  neither  de- 
sert nor  judge  you.  You  have  done  something  I 
had  rather  lose  my  life  than  do.  But  for  the 
present  our  fortunes  are  linked  together.  If  we 
are  captured,  both  will  suffer  an  ignominious  death. 
Therefore,  much  as  I  abhor  your  act,  I  cannot  di- 
vorce myself  from  the  consequences.  Then  let  us 
resolve,  come  what  may,  we  will  never  be  taken 
alive." 

Ferror  grasped  Fred's  hand,  and  pressing  it  fer- 
vently, replied:  "If  we  are  captured,  it  will  only 
be  my  dead  body  which  will  be  taken,  even  if  I 
have  to  send  a  bullet  through  my  own  heart." 

After  this  the  boys  said  little,  and  silently  waited 


IN   THE  HANDS   OF   THE  ENEMY.  l8l 

for  the  light.  With  the  first  gleam  of  the  morning, 
they  started  on  their  way,  thinking  only  of  getting 
as  far  as  possible  from  the  scene  of  that  night  of 
horror. 

As  the  sun  arose,  the  mountains  and  then  the 
valleys  were  flooded  with  its  golden  light.  At  any 
other  time  the  glorious  landscape  spread  out  before 
them  would  have  filled  Fred's  soul  with  delight; 
but  as  it  was,  he  only  eagerly  scanned  the  road 
which  ran  through  the  valley,  hoping  to  catch 
sight  of  Nelson's  advancing  columns.  But  no  such 
sight  greeted  him. 

''They  will  surely  come  before  long,"  said  Fred. 
"By  ten  o'clock  we  should  be  inside  of  the  Fed- 
eral lines  and  safe." 

But  if  Fred  had  heard  what  was  passing  in  the 
Rebel  camp  he  would  not  have  been  so  sanguine. 

Lieutenant  Davis,  officer  of  the  guard,  and 
Colonel  Williams  were  in  close  consultation. 

"Colonel,"  said  the  lieutenant,  "I  do  not  be- 
lieve the  Yankees  are  pursuing  us.  Those  boys 
will  take  it  for  granted  that  we  will  continue  our 
retreat,  and  will  soon  come  down  off  the  mountains 
into  the  road.  Let  me  take  a  couple  of  companies  of 
cavalry,  and  I  will  station  men  in  ambush  along  the 
road  as  far  back  as  it  is  safe  to  go.  In  this  way  I 
believe  we  stand  a  chance  to  catch  them." 

The  colonel  consented,  and,  therefore,  before 
the  sun  had  lighted  up  the  valley,  pickets  had  been 
placed  along  the  road  for  several  miles  back. 

The  boys  trailed  along  the   mountain  side  until 


1 82  GENERAL  NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

nearly  noon,  but  the  sides  of  the  mountain  were  so 
seamed  and  gashed  they  made  slow  progress. 
Gaining  a  high  point,  they  looked  towards  Piketon, 
and  in  the  far  distance  saw  an  advancing  column  of 
cavalry.     The  sight  filled  them  with  delight. 

"There  is  nothing  to  be  seen  to  the  south,"  said 
Fred.  "I  think  we  can  descend  to  the  road  in 
safety."  So  they  cautiously  made  their  way  down 
to  the  road. 

"Let  us  look  well  to  our  arms,"  said  Fred. 
"We  must  be  prepared  for  any  emergency." 

So  their  revolvers  were  carefully  examined,  fresh 
caps  put  in,  and  every  precaution  taken.  They 
came  out  on  the  road  close  to  a  little  valley  farm. 
In  front  of  the  cabin  stood  a  couple  of  horses 
hitched.  After  carefully  looking  at  the  horses, 
Ferror  said:  "Fred,  one  of  those  horses  belongs 
to  Lieutenant  Davis.  He  has  ridden  back  to  see 
if  he  could  not  catch  sight  of  us.  Nelson's  men 
will  soon  send  him  back  flying." 

Then  a  wild  idea  took  possession  of  the  boys. 
It  was  no  less  than  to  try  and  get  possession  of  the 
horses.  Would  n't  it  be  grand  to  enter  the  Fed- 
eral lines  in  triumph,  riding  the  horses  of  their 
would-be  captors!  Without  stopping  to  think  of 
the  danger,  they  at  once  acted  on  the  idea. 

From  the  cabin  came  sounds  of  laughter  min- 
gled with  the  music  of  women's  voices.  The  men 
inside  were  being  pleasantly  entertained. 

Getting  near  the  horses,  the  boys  made  a  dash, 
were  on  their  backs  in  a  twinkling,  and  with  a  yell 


IN   THE  HANDS    OF   THE  ENEMY.  183 

of  triumph  were  away.  The  astonished  officers 
rushed  to  the  door,  only  to  see  them  disappear 
down  the  road.  Then  they  raged  hke  madmen, 
cursing  their  fortunes,  and  calling  down  all  sorts  of 
anathemas  on  the  boys. 

"Never  mind,"  at  last  said  Sergeant  Jones,  who 
was  the  lieutenant's  companion  in  misfortune,  "the 
squad  down  the  road  will  catch  them." 

"Poor  consolation  for  the  disgrace  of  having 
our  horses  stolen,"  snapped  the  lieutenant. 

The  elation  of  the  boys  came  to  a  sudden  end- 
ing. In  the  road  ahead  of  them  stood  a  squad  of 
four  horsemen.  Involuntarily  the  boys  checked 
the  speed  of  their  horses.  They  looked  into  each 
other's  faces,  they  read  each  other's  thoughts. 

"It  can  only  be  death,"  said  Fred. 

"It  can  only  be  death,"  echoed  Ferror,  "and  I 
welcome  it.  I  know,  Fred,  you  look  on  me  as  a 
murderer.  I  want  to  show  you  how  I  can  die  in  a 
fair  fight." 

Fred  hardly  realized  what  Ferror  was  saying; 
he  was  debating  a  plan  of  attack. 

"Ferror,"  he  said,  "let  us  ride  leisurely  for- 
ward until  we  get  within  about  fifty  yards  of  them. 
No  doubt  they  know  the  horses,  and  will  be  non- 
plused as  to  who  we  are.  When  we  are  close  we 
will  charge.  It  will  be  all  over  in  a  moment — 
safety  or  death." 

Ferror  nodded.  He  was  as  pale  as  his  victims 
of  the  night  before,  but  his  eyes  blazed,  his  teeth 
were  set  hard,  every  muscle  was  strained. 


184  GENERAL   NELSON'S   SCOUT. 

Just  as  Fred  turned  to  say,  "Now!"  Ferror 
shouted,  "Good-bye,  Fred,"  and  dashed  straight 
for  the  horsemen.  The  movement  was  so  sudden 
it  left  Fred  sHghtly  behind.  The  revolvers  of  the 
four  Confederates  blazed,  but  like  a  thunderbolt 
Ferror  was  on  them.  The  first  man  and  horse 
went  down  like  a  tenpin  before  the  ball  of  the 
bowler;  the  second,  and  boy  and  man  and  both 
horses  went  down  in  an  indistinguishable  mass  to- 
gether. 

As  for  Fred,  not  for  a  second  did  he  lose  com- 
mand of  himself  or  his  horse.  He  saw  what  was 
coming,  and  swerved  to  the  right.  Here  a  single 
Confederate  confronted  him.  This  man's  attention 
had  been  attracted  for  a  moment  to  the  fate  of  his 
comrades  in  the  road,  and  before  he  knew  it  Fred 
was  on  him.  He  raised  his  smoking  revolver  to 
fire,  but  Fred's  revolver  spoke  first,  and  the  soldier 
reeled  and  fell  from  his  saddle. 

The  road  was  now  open  for  Fred  to  escape,  but 
he  wheeled  his  horse  and  rode  back  to  see  what  had 
become  of  his  comrade.  One  Confederate  still  sat 
on  his  horse  unhurt.  Seeing  Fred,  he  raised  his 
pistol  and  fired.  Fred  felt  his  left  arm  grow  numb, 
and  then  a  sensation  like  that  of  hot  water  running 
down  the  limb.  Before  the  soldier  could  fire  the 
second  time,  a  ball  from  Fred's  pistol  crashed 
through  his  brain,  and  he  fell,  an  inert  mass,  in  the 
road.      The  fight  was  over. 

Of  the  two  Confederates  overthrown  in  the  wild 
charge  of  Ferror,  one  was   dead,  the   other  was  un- 


IN   THE  HANDS   OF   THE  ENEMT.  185 

touched  by  bullets,  but  lay  groaning  with  a  broken 
leg  and  arm.  Fred  turned  his  attention  to  Ferror. 
He  lay  partly  under  his  horse,  his  eyes  closed,  his 
bosom  stained  with  blood. 

Fred  raised  his  head.  "Ferror!  Ferror!"  he 
cried,  with  burning  tears. 

The  boy  opened  his  eyes  and  smiled.  "It  's  all 
right,  Fred — all  right,"  he  gasped.  "That  was  no 
murder — that  was  a  fair  fight,  was  n't  it?" 

"Oh,  Ferror!  Ferror!"  moaned  Fred.  "You 
must  not  die." 

"It  is  better  as  it  is,  Fred.  I  will  not  have 
that  to  think  of." 

He  closed  his  eyes,  and  when  he  opened  them 
again  it  was  with  a  far-away  look.  He  tried  to 
raise  himself.  "Yes,  mother,"  he  whispered, 
and  then  his  eyes  closed  forever. 

The  clatter  of  horses'  hoofs,  and  the  clang  of 
sabers  were  now  heard.  Fred  looked  up;  a  party 
of  Federal  cavalry  was  bearing  down  upon  him. 
They  looked  on  the  bloody  scene  in  astonishment. 
A  dashing  young  captain  rode  up.  Fred  pointed 
to  young  Ferror's  lifeless  body,  and  said:  "Bring 
his  body  back  to  Piketon  with  you.  He  gave  his 
life  for  me.      I  am  one  of  General  Nelson's  scouts." 

Then  everything  grew  black  before  him,  and  he 
knew  no  more.  He  had  fainted  from  the  loss  of 
blood. 

The  rough  troopers  bound  up  his  arm,  staunched 
the  flow  of  blood,  and  soon  Fred  was  able  to  ride  to 
Piketon.      General  Nelson  received  him  with  aston- 


1 86  GENERAL  NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

ishment ;  yet  he  would  not  let  him  talk,  but  at  once 
ordered  him  to  the  hospital.  As  for  Robert  Fer- 
ror,  he  was  given  a  soldier's  burial. 

A  year  after  the  war  closed,  Frederic  Shackel- 
ford, a  stalwart  young  man,  sought  out  the  home 
of  Mrs.  Ferror.  He  found  a  gray-haired,  broken- 
hearted mother  and  two  lovely  young  ladies,  her 
daughters.  They  had  mourned  the  son  and  brother, 
not  only  as  dead,  but  as  forever  disgraced,  for  they 
had  been  told  that  Robert  had  been  shot  for  deser- 
tion. 

Fred  gave  them  the  little  mementoes  he  had 
kept  through  the  years  for  them.  He  told  them 
how  Robert  had  given  his  life  to  try  and  save  him, 
and  that  the  last  word  that  trembled  on  his  lips  was 
"Mother." 

The  gray-haired  mother  lifted  her  trembling 
hands,  and  thanked  God  that  her  son  had  at  least 
died  the  death  of  a  soldier. 

Learning  that  the  family  had  been  impoverished 
by  the  war,  when  Fred  left,  he  slipped  $i,ooo  in 
Mrs.  Ferror's  hand,  and  whispered,  "For  Robert's 
sake;"  and  the  stricken  mother,  through  tear- 
dimmed  eyes,  watched  his  retreating  form,  and 
murmured:  "And  Robert  would  have  been  just 
such  a  man  if  he  had  lived." 


Fred  raised  his  Head,  "  Ferror  !  Ferror  !  "  he  cried. 


CHAPTER   XL 

CRAZY   BILL   SHERMAN. 

FRED'S  wound  was  not  a  dangerous  one.  The 
ball  had  gone  through  the  fleshy  part  of  the 
arm,  causing  a  great  loss  of  blood ;  but  no  bones 
were  broken,  and  it  was  only  a  question  of  a  few 
weeks  before  he  would  be  as  well  as  ever. 

The  story  of  the  two  boys  charging  four  Con- 
federate cavalrymen,  killing  three,  and  disabling 
the  fourth  was  the  wonder  of  the  army.  But  Fred 
modestly  disclaimed  any  particular  bravery  in  the 
affair. 

"It  is  to  poor  Bob  Ferror  that  the  honor  should 
be  given,"  he  would  say;  "the  boy  that  knowingly 
rode  to  his  death  that  I  might  be  saved." 

Fred  gave  General  Nelson  the  particulars  of  his 
capture  and  escape,  and  the  general  looked  grave 
and  said : 

"If  I  had  known  I  was  going  to  place  you  in 
such  extreme  danger,  I  should  not  have  sent  for 
you.  On  account  of  the  crime  of  young  Ferror, 
you  would  have  met  with  a  most  ignominious  death 
if  you  had  been  recaptured ;  yet  the  charging  on 
those  four  cavalrymen  was-  one  of  the  pluckiest 
things   I   have   heard  of  during  the  war.      You  de- 

187 


l88  GENERAL  NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

serve  and  shall  have  a  good  rest.  I  have  just  fin- 
ished making  up  some  dispatches  for  General  Sher- 
man, and  you  shall  be  my  messenger.  A  dispatch 
boat  leaves  in  the  morning,  and  you  shall  go  with 
it.  When  you  get  to  Catlettsburg,  you  can  take 
an  Ohio  river  steamer  for  Louisville.  The  trip 
being  all  by  water,  will  be  an  easy  one,  and  as 
a  number  of  sick  and  wounded  will  be  sent  away  on 
the  same  boat,  you  will  have  good  surgical  attend- 
ance for  your  wounded  arm.  Here  is  a  paper  that 
will  admit  you  to  the  officers'  hospital  when  you 
get  to  Louisville.  Take  a  good  rest,  you  need  it, 
I  do  not  think  it  will  be  long  before  I,  with  my 
command,  will  be  ordered  back  to  Louisville.  The 
enemy  has  retreated  through  Pound  Gap  into 
Virginia,  and  there  is  nothing  more  for  me  to 
do  here.  Stay  in  Louisville  until  you  hear  from 
me." 

The  next  morning  found  Fred  on  his  way  down 
the  Big  Sandy.  The  whole  voyage  was  unevent- 
ful, and  after  a  quick  trip  Fred  once  more  found 
himself  in  Louisville.  The  rest  and  quiet  of  the 
voyage  had  almost  cured  the  ill-effects  of  his  expe- 
rience, and  with  the  exception  of  his  wounded  arm, 
which  he  was  compelled  to  carry  in  a  sling,  he  was 
feeling  about  as  well  as  ever. 

Once  in  Louisville,  he  lost  no  time  in  turning 
over  his  dispatches  to  General  Sherman.  He  found 
the  general  surrounded  by  a  delegation  of  the 
prominent  Union  men  of  the  city.  They  seemed 
to  be  arguing  with  Sherman  about  something,  and 


CRAZr  BILL   SHERMAN.  1 89 

as  for  the  general,  he  was  in  a  towering  rage,  and 
was  swearing  in  a  manner  equal  to  General  Nelson 
•in  one  of  his  outbreaks  of  anger. 

Fred  was  surprised  to  find  the  usually  mild  and 
gentlemanly  officer  in  such  a  passion,  but  there  was 
no  mistake,  he  was  angry  clear  through. 

"There  is  no  use  talking,  gentlemen,"  he  was 
saying,  as  he  paced  the  room  with  quick  nervous 
tread,  "I  am  not  only  going  to  resign,  but  I  have 
already  sent  in  my  resignation.  I  will  not  remain 
in  command  of  the  Department  of  Kentucky  an- 
other day;  the  command  of  the  armies  of  the 
United  States  would  not  induce  me  to  remain  and 
be  insulted  and  outraged  as  I  have  been." 

"We  are  very  sorry  to  hear  it.  General,"  replied 
the  spokesman  of  the  delegation.  "We  had  great 
hopes  of  what  you  would  accomplish  when  you 
were  appointed  to  the  command  of  the  department, 
and  our  confidence  in  you  is  still  unabated." 

"I  am  thankful,"  replied  the  general,  "for  that 
confidence,  but  what  can  you  expect  of  a  man 
bound  hand  and  foot.  They  seem  to  know  a  great 
deal  better  in  Washington  what  we  need  here  than 
we  do  who  are  on  the  ground.  This,  in  a  meas- 
ure, is  to  be  expected ;  but  to  be  reviled  and  in- 
sulted is  more  than  I  can  stand.  But  if  I  had  not 
resigned,  I  should  be  removed,  I  know  that.  Just 
let  the  newspapers  begin  howling  at  a  general,  and 
denouncing  him,  and  every  official  at  Washington 
begins  shaking  in  his  boots.  What  can  be  expected 
of  a  general  with  every  newspaper  in  the  land  yelp- 


190  GENERAL   NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

ing  at  his  heels  like  a  pack  of  curs?  If  I  wanted 
to  end  this  war  quickly,  I  would  begin  by  hanging 
every  editor  who  would  publish  a  word  on  how  the 
war  should  be  conducted.  It  would  be  a  glorious 
beginning." 

"Are  you  not  a  little  too  severe  on  the  news- 
paper fraternity,  General?"  mildly  put  in  one  of  the 
citizen  delegates. 

"Severe!  severe!  not  half  as  severe  as  the  idiots 
deserve.  They  think  they  know  more  about  war, 
and  how  to  conduct  campaigns  than  all  the  military 
men  of  the  country  combined.  Not  satisfied  with 
telling  me  how  and  when  to  conduct  a  campaign, 
they  attack  me  most  unjustly  and  cruelly,  attack 
me  in  such  a  manner  I  cannot  reply.  Just  listen 
to  this,"  and  the  general  turned  and  took  up  a 
scrapbook  in  which  numerous  newspaper  clippings 
had  been  pasted.  "Here  is  an  editorial  from  that 
esteemed  and  influential  paper.  The  Cincinnati  Com- 
merce^ ' '  and  the  general  read : 

"  'It  is  a  lamentable  fact  that  many  of  our  gen- 
erals are  grossly  incompetent,  but  when  incipient 
insanity  is  added  to  incompetency,  it  is  time  to  cry 
a  halt.  Right  here  at  home,  the  general  who  com- 
mands the  Department  of  Kentucky  and  therefore 
has  the  safety  of  our  city  in  his  hands,  is  W.  T. 
Sherman.  We  have  it  on  the  most  reliable  evi- 
dence that  he  is  of  unsound  mind.  Not  only  do 
many  of  his  sayings  excite  the  pity  of  his  friends 
and  ridicule  of  his  enemies,  but  they  are  positively 
dangerous  to  the  success  of  our  cause.     The  Gov- 


CRAZr  BILL   SHERMAN.  191 

ernment    should   at   least   put    the    department    in 
charge  of  a  general  of  sound  mind.' 

"Now,  if  that  is  not  enough,"  continued  the 
general,  with  a  touch  of  irony  in  his  tones,  "I  will 
give  you  a  choice  clipping  from  the  great  New  York 
Tricate. 

"  'It  is  with  sorrow  that  we  learn  that  General 
W.  T.  Sherman,  who  is  in  command  of  the  Depart- 
ment of  Kentucky,  is  not  in  his  right  mind.  It  is 
said  that  the  authorities  at  Washington  have  been 
aware  of  this  for  some  time,  but  for  political  rea- 
sons fear  to  remove  him.  He  is  a  brother  of  John 
Sherman,  one  of  the  influential  politicians  of  Ohio, 
and  United  States  Senator-elect.  While  the  affair 
is  to  be  regretted,  the  Government  should  not  hesi- 
tate on  account  of  political  influence.  General 
Sherman  should  be  at  once  removed.  That  he 
is  mentally  unsound  is  admitted,  even  by  his 
best  friends.  Let  the  administration  act  at 
once.' 

The  whole  company  was  smiling  at  the  absurdity 
of  the  affair.      Even  the  general  had  to  laugh. 

"I  will  read  once  more,"  said  the  general.  "It 
is  from  the  Chicago  Timer,  and  hits  others  as  well 
as  myself.      Here  it  is: 

"  'General  Bill  Sherman,  in  command  of  the 
Department  of  Kentucky,  is  said  to  be  insane. 
We  do  n't  doubt  it.  In  our  mind  the  whole  Lin- 
coln Government,  from  President  down,  is  insane — 
insane  over  the  idea  that  they  can  coerce  the  South 
back  into  the  Union.     The  only  difference  that  we 


192  GENERAL   NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

can  see  is  that  Bill  Sherman  may  be  a  little  crazier 
than  the  rest;  that  's  all.' 

"There,"  continued  the  general,  "are  only  a 
few  of  the  scores  of  extracts  which  I  have  from  the 
most  influential  papers  in  the  land.  Of  course 
the  smaller  papers  have  taken  their  cue  from  the 
larger  ones,  and  now  the  whole  pack  of  little 
whiffets  are  after  me,  snapping  at  my  heels;  and 
the  good  people  believe  the  story  because  it  is  pub- 
lished. Hundreds  of  letters  are  being  received  at 
Washington,  asking  for  my  removal.  My  brother 
writes  that  he  is  overwhelmed  with  inquiries  con- 
cerning me.  I  believe  the  War  Department  more 
than  half  believes  I  am  of  unsound  mind.  They 
are  only  waiting  for  an  excuse  to  get  rid  of  me,  and 
I  know  that  my  resignation  will  be  received  with 
joy." 

"General,"  asked  one  of  the  citizens  present, 
"have  you  any  idea  of  how  the  story  of  your  insan- 
ity started?" 

"Oh,  yes!"  replied  the  general.  "When  Sec- 
retary of  War  Cameron  was  here,  I  laid  before  him 
the  wants  of  Kentucky,  and  among  other  things 
said  that  I  needed  60,000  men  for  defensive  work, 
but  for  offensive  operations  I  should  need  200,000. 
The  Secretary  spoke  of  it  as  an  'insane  request.' 
Some  reporter  got  hold  of  it,  and  then  it  went.  The 
Secretary  has  never  taken  the  pains  to  correct  the 
impressions." 

"Were  you  not  a  little  extravagant  in  your  de- 
mands?" asked  another  citizen. 


CRAZr  BILL   SHERMAN.  193 

"Not  at  all.  The  politicians  at  Washington 
have  never  yet  recognized  the  magnitude  of  the 
war  in  which  we  are  engaged.  Then  their  whole 
life  is  office,  and  they  are  afraid  of  doing  something 
that  will  lose  them  a  vote.  As  for  the  newspapers, 
they  would  rather  print  a  sensation  than  have  us 
win  a  victory.  My  God  I  They  have  called  me 
crazy  so  much  they  have  alarmed  my  wife,"  and 
the  general  again  indulged  in  another  burst  of 
anger.  When  he  became  calmer,  he  said:  "Gen- 
tlemen, I  thank  you  for  your  expressions  of  sym- 
pathy and  confidence.  I  trust  my  successor  will 
be  more  worthy  than  I,"  and  he  bowed  the  delega- 
tion out. 

Fred  remained  standing.  The  general  noticed 
him,  and  asked:  "Well,  my  boy,  what  is  it?  Why, 
bless  my  soul,  it's  Fred  Shackelford!  Just  from 
General  Nelson,  Fred?" 

"Yes,  General,  with  dispatches,"  and  he  handed 
them  to  him. 

"I  will  read  them  when  I  cool  off  a  little;  I 
have  been  rather  warm.  I  see  your  arm  is  in  a 
sling;  been  in  a  skirmish?" 

"Yes,  General,  a  small  one.  The  wound  did  n't 
amount  to  much;   it  is  nearly  well." 

"You  should  be  thankful  it  is  no  worse.  Come 
in  in  the  morning,  Fred ;  I  will  have  the  dispatches 
read  by  that  time." 

Fred  called,  as  requested,  the  next  morning,  and 
found  the  general  calm  and  courteous  as  ever.  The 
storm  had  passed  away. 


194  GENERAL  NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

"General  Nelson  writes  good  news,"  said  Sher- 
man. "He  reports  he  has  entirely  driven  the 
Rebels  out  of  the  valley  of  the  Big  Sandy.  He  also 
tells  me  in  a  private  letter  of  your  capture  and 
escape.  He  speaks  of  the  desperate  conflict  that 
you  and  your  comrade  had  with  four  Rebel  cavalry- 
men. It  was  a  most  remarkable  adventure.  My 
boy,  I  shall  keep  my  eye  on  you.  I  surely  should 
ask  for  your  services  myself  if  I  were  going  to  re- 
main in  command  of  the  department." 

"General,  I  am  sorry  to  have  you  resign,"  an- 
swered Fred,  hardly  knowing  what  to  say. 

The  general's  face  darkened,  and  then  he  an- 
swered lightly:  "I  do  not  think  they  will  be  sorry 
at  Washington." 

And  they  were  not ;  his  resignation  was  gladly 
accepted,  and  the  general  who  afterward  led  his 
victorious  army  to  Atlanta,  and  then  made  his 
famous  march  to  the  sea,  and  whose  fame  filled  the 
world,  retired  under  a  cloud.  And  the  injustice  of 
it  rankled  in  his  breast  and  imbittered  his  heart  for 
months. 


CHAPTER   XII. 

A  DESPERATE   ENCOUNTER. 

THE  general  appointed  to  succeed  Sherman  was 
Don  Carlos  Buell,  a  thorough  soldier,  and, 
like  McClellan,  a  splendid  organizer;  but,  like  that 
general,  he  was  unsuccessful  in  the  field,  and  dur- 
ing what  is  known  as  the  "Bragg-Buell  campaign" 
in  Kentucky  in  the  fall  of  1862,  he  entirely  lost  the 
confidence  of  his  soldiers. 

Buell's  first  attention  was  given  to  the  organiza- 
tion of  his  army  and  the  drilling  of  his  soldiers. 
His  labors  in  this  direction  were  very  successful, 
and  the  "Army  of  the  Cumberland"  became 
famous  for  its  esprit  de  corps. 

General  Nelson,  according  to  his  predictions, 
was  ordered  back  with  his  command  to  Louisville. 
Fred,  now  entirely  well,  was  greatly  rejoiced  to  once 
more  see  his  old  commander.  But  there  was  little 
prospect  of  active  service,  for  the  division  was 
ordered  into  camp  for  the  purpose  of  drilling  and 
being  perfected  in  military  duties.  Idleness  was 
irksome  to  Fred,  so  he  asked  and  obtained  permis- 
sion to  join  General  Thomas,  and  remain  until  such 
time  as  Nelson  might  need  his  services. 

General  Thomas  gave  Fred  a  most  cordial  recep- 
19s 


196  GENERAL   NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

tion.  There  was  something  about  the  handsome, 
dashing  boy  that  greatly  endeared  him  to  the  staid, 
quiet  general.  Just  now,  Fred's  presence  was  very 
desirable,  for  Zollicoffer  was  proving  very  trouble- 
some, threatening  first  one  point  and  then  another, 
and  it  was  almost  impossible  to  tell  which  place  was 
in  the  most  danger.  General  Thomas'  forces  were 
greatly  scattered,  guarding  different  points,  and  he 
feared  that  at  some  of  these  places  his  troops 
might  be  attacked  and  overpowered.  He  had 
asked  permission  of  Buell  time  and  again  to  be 
allowed  to  concentrate  his  forces  and  strike  Zolli- 
coffer a  telling  blow,  but  each  and  every  time  had 
met  with  a  refusal.  Instead  of  being  allowed  to 
concentrate  his  force,  he  was  ordered  to  move  por- 
tions of  his  command  here  and  there,  and  the 
orders  of  one  day  might  be  countermanded  the  next. 
Being  December,  the  roads  were  in  a  horrible  con- 
dition, and  it  was  almost  impossible  to  move  trains, 
so  that  his  army  was  being  reduced  by  hard  service 
which  did  no  good.  Fred  could  see  that  the  gen- 
eral was  worried.  He  would  sit  for  hours  buried 
in  thought  or  poring  over  maps. 

All  this  time,  Zollicoffer  was  ravaging  the  middle 
southern  counties  of  Kentucky,  threatening  first 
London,  then  Somerset,  then  Columbia,  then  some 
intermediate  point.  The  outposts  of  the  army 
were  often  attacked,  and  frequent  skirmishes  took 
place.  In  the  midst  of  this  activity,  Fred  found 
congenial  employment.  He  was  kept  busy  carry- 
ing   dispatches    from    one    post   to   another,  or   on 


A   DESPERATE  ENCOUNTER.  ig'J 

scouting  expeditions,  trying  to  gain  information  of 
the  movements  of  the  enemy.  He  frequently  met 
squads  of  the  enemy,  and  had  many  narrow  escapes 
from  capture ;  but  the  fleetness  of  his  horse  always 
saved  him. 

Of  all  General  Thomas'  scouts,  Fred  obtained 
the  most  valuable  information.  While  not  ventur- 
ing into  the  enemy's  lines,  he  had  a  way  of  getting 
information  out  of  the  inhabitants  friendly  to  the 
South  that  surprised  even  the  general.  Fred 
hardly  ever  made  a  mistake  as  to  the  movements  of 
the  opposing  army. 

If  there  was  one  thing  that  he  loved  more  than 
another  it  was  his  horse.  He  had  trained  him  to 
do  anything  that  a  horse  could  do.  At  a  word  he 
would  lie  down  and  remain  as  motionless  as  if  dead. 
He  would  go  anywhere  he  was  told  without  hesi- 
tating, and  his  keen  ear  would  detect  the  presence 
of  an  enemy  quicker  than  the  ear  of  his  master. 
Fred  had  also  perfected  himself  in  the  use  of  a 
revolver  until  he  was  one  of  the  best  shots  in  the 
army.  He  could  ride  by  a  tree  at  full  gallop,  and 
put  three  balls  in  a  three-inch  circle  without  check- 
ing his  speed. 

"My  Hfe, "  he  would  say,  "may  depend  on  my 
being  able  to  shoot  quickly  and  accurately." 

On  some  of  his  scouts  Fred  would  take  a  party 
with  him,  and  there  was  not  a  soldier  who  did  not 
consider  it  one  of  the  greatest  honors  to  be  thus 
chosen. 

One   day   near  the  close  of  the  year  Fred  was 


198  GENERAL   NELSOJSTS   SCOUT. 

scouting  with  a  picked  force  of  five  men  a  few 
miles  to  the  east  and  south  of  Somerset.  As  they 
were  riding  through  a  piece  of  wood,  Prince  sud- 
denly stopped,  pricked  up  his  ears,  listened  a  mo- 
ment, and  then  turned  and  looked  at  his  master,  as 
if  to  say,  "Danger  ahead!" 

"To  cover,  boys,"  said  Fred,  in  a  low  tone. 
"Prince  scents  trouble." 

The  party  turned  aside  into  the  wood,  and  was 
soon  completely  hidden  from  view. 

"Steady  now,"  said  Fred;   "no  noise." 

"Are  you  sure  your  horse  is  as  wise  as  you 
think?"  asked  one  of  the  men. 

"Perfectly  sure;  Prince  never  makes  a  mistake. 
Hark!" 

The  trampling  of  horses,  and  the  jingling  of 
sabers  could  plainly  be  heard,  and  soon  a  party  of 
nine  Confederate  cavalrymen  came  riding  by. 
They  had  no  thought  of  danger,  and  were  laugh- 
ing and  talking,  thinking  not  that  death  lurked  so 
near  them. 

"The  old  traitor  lives  right  ahead,"  they  heard 
one  say. 

' '  We  will  learn  him  to  harbor  East  Tennessee 
bridge-burners,"  said  the  leader  with  a  coarse 
laugh. 

"Will  it  be  hanging  or  shooting.  Sergeant?" 
asked  a  third.  "I  hope  it  will  be  hanging.  It's 
such  fun  to  see  a  Lincolnite  hanging  by  the  neck 
and  dancing  on  air.  Never  shoot  a  man  if  you  can 
hang  him,  is  my  motto." 


A   DESPERATE  ENCOUNTER.  199 

Fred's  men  heard  this  conversation  with  lower- 
ing brows,  and  the  muttered  curses  were  deep  if 
not  loud,  and  five  carbines  were  raised,  but  with  a 
gesture  Fred  motioned  them  down.  His  men 
looked  at  him  in  astonishment,  and  there  was  disap- 
pointment on  every  face. 

As  soon  as  the  Confederates  were  out  of  hearing, 
so  it  was  safe  to  speak,  one  of  the  men  said  with  a  sigh : 
"Capt'in," — the  soldiers  always  called  Fred  cap- 
tain when  they  were  out  with  him — "I  would  hev 
give  five  dollars  for  a  shot.  I  would  hev  fetched 
that  feller  that  loved  to  see  hangin',  sure." 

"I  have  strict  orders,"  replied  Fred,  "to  avoid 
fighting  when  I  am  out  on  these  scouting  expedi- 
tions. It  is  the  part  of  a  good  scout  never  to  get 
into  a  fight  except  to  avoid  capture.  A  scout  is 
sent  out  to  get  information,  not  to  fight;  a  conflict 
defeats  the  very  object  he  has  in  view." 

"That  's  so,  capt'in,  but  it  goes  agin  the  grain 
to  let  them  fellers  off." 

"I  may  have  made  a  mistake,"  replied  Fred, 
"in  letting  those  fellows  off.  Come  to  think  about 
it,  I  do  not  like  what  they  said.  It  sounded  like 
mischief." 

"Worse  than  that,  capt'in." 

"We  will  follow  them  up,"  said  Fred,  "as  far 
as  we  can  unobserved.  You  remember  we  passed  a 
pretty  farmhouse  some  half  a  mile  back;  that 
may  be  the  place  they  were  talking  about.  We  can 
ride  within  three  hundred  yards  of  it  under  cover  of 
the  forest." 


200  GENERAL   NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

Riding  carefully  through  the  wood,  they  soon 
came  in  sight  of  the  place.  Surely  enough,  the 
Confederates  had  stopped  in  front  of  the  house. 
Four  of  them  were  holding  the  horses,  while  the 
other  five  were  not  to  be  seen.  As  they  sat  looking 
the  muffled  sound  of  two  shots  were  heard,  and 
then  the  shrieking  of  women. 

"Boys,"  said  Fred,  in  a  strained  voice,  "I 
made  a  mistake  in  not  letting  you  shoot.  Hear 
those  shrieks?  There  is  devil's  work  there.  There 
are  nine  of  them ;  we  are  six.  Shall  we  attack 
them?" 

"Aye!  aye!"  shouted  every  one,  their  eyes 
blazing  with  excitement. 

"Look  well  to  your  weapons,  then.  Are  you 
ready?' ' 

"We  are  ready.  Hurrah  for  the  young  cap- 
t'in!"  they  all  shouted. 

"Then  for  God's  sake,  forward,  or  we  will  be  too 
late!"  for  the  frenzied  shrieks  of  women  could  still 
be  heard. 

They  no  sooner  broke  cover,  than  the  men  hold- 
ing the  horses  discovered  them,  and  gave  the  alarm. 
The  five  miscreants  who  were  in  the  house  came 
rushing  out,  and  all  hastily  mounting  their  horses, 
rode  swiftly  away.  The  Federals,  with  yells  of 
vengeance,  followed  in  swift  pursuit;  yet  in  all 
probability  the  Confederates  would  have  escaped  if 
it  had  not  been  for  the  fleetness  of  Prince.  Fred 
soon  distanced  all  of  his  companions,  and  so  was 
comparatively  alone  and  close  on  the  heels  of  the 


A   DESPERATE  ENCOUNTER.  20I 

enemy.  They  noticed  this,  and  conceived  the  idea 
that  they  could  kill  or  capture  him.  This  was  their 
undoing.  Fred  was  watching  for  this  very  thing, 
and  as  they  stopped  he  fired,  just  as  the  leader's 
horse  was  broadside  to  him.  Then  at  the  word, 
Prince  turned  as  quick  as  a  flash,  and  was  running 
back.  The  movement  was  so  unexpected  to  the 
Confederates  that  the  volley  they  fired  went 
wild. 

As  for  the  horse  of  the  Confederate  leader,  it 
reared  and  plunged,  and  then  fell  heavily,  pinning 
its  rider  to  the  ground.  Two  of  his  men  dis- 
mounted to  help  him.  When  he  got  to  his  feet, 
he  saw  that  Fred's  companions  had  joined  him  and 
that  they  all  were  coming  on  a  charge. 

"Here,  Simmons!"  he  yelled.  "Let  me  have 
your  horse.  You  take  to  cover.  Now,  boys,  stand 
firm;  there  are  only  six  of  them.  Here  is  for  old 
Tennessee!" 

But  it  takes  men  of  iron  nerve  to  stand  still  and 
receive  a  charge,  and  the  Federals  were  coming  like 
a  whirlwind. 

The  Confederates  emptied  their  revolvers  at 
close  range,  and  then  half  of  them  turned  to  flee. 
It  was  too  late ;  the  Federals  were  among  them, 
shooting,  sabering,  riding  them  down.  The  fight 
was  short  and  fierce.  When  it  was  over,  eight 
Confederates  lay  dead  or  desperately  wounded.  Of 
the  six  Federals,  two  were  dead  and  two  were 
wounded.  Only  one  Confederate  had  escaped  to 
carry  back  the  story  of  the  disaster. 


The  Federals  were  among  them,  shooting,  sabering,  riding 
them  down. 


A   DESPERATE  ENCOUNTER.  203 

and    looked   with    wonder  on   the   dead    men    and 
horses. 

"My  good  man,"  said  Fred,  "here  are  some 
wounded  men  that  should  be  looked  after.  Can 
you  not  do  it,  or  get  word  to  their  command?" 

"I  reckon  I  kin,"  slowly  replied  the  countryman. 
"Must  had  quite  a  fought." 

"Yes,"  replied  Fred;  "and  this  reminds  me, 
boys,  we  had  better  get  away  from  here.  We 
do  not  know  how  many  of  the  enemy  may  be 
near." 

The  wounds  of  the  two  Federals  who  had  been 
hurt  were  bound  up,  and  they  were  helped  on  their 
horses.  The  bodies  of  the  two  dead  were  then  ten- 
derly placed  on  two  of  the  Confederate  horses  which 
were  unhurt,  and  the  mournful  cavalcade  slowly 
moved  away. 

Going  back  to  the  house  which  the  Confederates 
had  entered,  a  distressing  sight  met  their  view. 

On  a  bed,  the  master  of  the  house  lay  dead,  shot 
to  death  by  the  murderers.  By  the  bedside  stood 
the  wife  and  two  daughters,  weeping  and  wringing 
their  hands.  The  face  of  the  widow  was  covered 
with  blood,  and  there  was  a  deep  gash  on  her  head 
where  one  of  the  wretches  had  struck  her  with  the 
butt  of  his  revolver,  as  she  clung  to  him  imploring 
him  not  to  murder  her  husband. 

The  pitiful  sight  drove  Fred's  men  wild,  and  he 
had  all  that  he  could  do  to  prevent  them  from  going 
back  and  finishing  the  wounded  murderers. 

"You    did    wrong,    capt'in,    in  not  letting  me 


204  GENERAL  NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

finish  that  red-handed  villain  who  tried  to  shoot 
you,"  said  Williams. 

With  broken  sobs  the  woman  told  her  story. 
Her  husband  had  a  brother  in  East  Tennessee,  who 
had  been  accused  by  the  Confederate  authorities  of 
helping  burn  railroad  bridges.  He  escaped  with  a 
number  of  Union  men,  and  was  now  a  captain  in 
one  of  the  Tennessee  regiments. 

"They  came  here,"  said  the  woman,  "and 
found  my  husband  sick  in  bed,  so  sick  he  could  not 
raise  a  finger  to  help  himself.  They  accused  him 
of  harboring  his  brother,  and  of  furnishing  informa- 
tion, and  said  that  they  had  come  to  hang  him,  but 
as  he  was  sick  they  would  shoot  him.  And  then," 
sobbed  the  woman,  "notwithstanding  our  prayers, 
they  shot  him  before  our  eyes.  Oh,  it  was  dread- 
ful!" and  the  stricken  wife  broke  completely  down, 
and  the  daughters  hung  over  the  body  of  their  mur- 
dered father,  weeping  as  if  their  hearts  would 
break. 

Fred  was  deeply  moved.  He  told  the  sobbing 
women  that  he  would  at  once  report  the  case,  and 
have  her  husband's  brother  come  out  with  his  com- 
pany. "We  will  also,"  said  Fred,  "leave  the 
bodies  of  our  two  dead  comrades  here.  If  you 
wish,  I  will  send  a  chaplain,  that  all  may  have 
Christian  burial.  And,  my  poor  woman,  your 
wrongs  have  been  fearfully  avenged.  Of  the  nine 
men  in  the  party  that  murdered  your  husband,  but 
one  escaped.  The  rest  are  dead  or  terribly 
wounded." 


A   DESPERATE  ENCOUNTER.  205 

"Thank  God!  thank  God!"  said  the  women, 
raising  their  streaming  eyes  to  heaven.  Even  the 
presence  of  death  did  not  take  away  their  desire  for 
revenge.  Such  is  poor  human  nature,  even  in 
gentle  woman. 

"War  makes  demons  of  us  all,"  thought  Fred. 

The  story  of  that  fight  was  long  a  theme  around 
the  camp  fire,  and  the  three  soldiers  who  survived 
never  tired  of  telling  it.  As  for  Fred,  he  spoke  of 
it  with  reluctance,  and  could  not  think  of  it  without 
a  shudder.  Fifteen  men  never  engaged  in  a  bloodier 
conflict,  even  on  the  "dark  and  bloody  ground"  of 
Kentucky. 


CHAPTER   XIII. 

THE   MEETING  OF   THE   COUSINS. 

GENERAL  THOMAS  sat  in  his  headquarters 
at  Lebanon  looking  over  some  dispatches 
which  Fred  had  just  brought  from  General  Schoepf 
at  Somerset.  His  face  wore  a  look  of  anxiety  as 
he  read,  for  the  dispatches  told  him  that  General 
ZoUicoffer  had  crossed  to  the  north  side  of  the 
Cumberland  river  and  was  fortifying  his  camp  at 
Beech  Grove. 

"I  may  be  attacked  at  any  moment,"  wrote 
General  Schoepf,  "and  you  know  how  small  my 
force  is.  For  the  love  of  heaven,  send  me  rein- 
forcements." 

The  general  sat  with  his  head  bowed  in  his 
hands  thinking  of  what  could  be  done,  when  an 
orderly  entered  with  dispatches  from  Louisville. 
Thomas  opened  them  languidly,  for  he  expected 
nothing  but  the  old  story  of  keeping  still  and  doing 
nothing.  Suddenly  his  face  lighted  up ;  his  whole 
countenance  beamed  with  satisfaction,  and  turning 
to  Fred  he  said : 

"My  boy,  here  is  news  for  us,  indeed.  General 
Buell  has  at  last  consented  to  advance.  He  has 
given    orders    for    me    to    concentrate    my    army 

206 


THE  MEETING   OF   THE   COUSINS.  207 

and    attack    ZolHcoffer  at  the  earliest  possible  mo- 
ment." 

Fred  could  not  suppress  a  hurrah. 

"General,"  he  exclaimed,  "I  already  see  ZolH- 
coffer defeated,  and  hurled  back  across  the  Cum- 
berland." 

General  Thomas  smiled.  "Don't  be  too  san- 
guine, Fred,"  he  said;  "none  of  us  know  what  the 
fortune  of  war  may  be ;  we  can  only  hope  for  the 
best.  But  this  means  more  work  for  you,  my  boy. 
You  will  at  once  have  to  return  with  dispatches  to 
General  Schoepf.  Everything  depends  on  his  hold- 
ing his  position.  Somerset  must  be  held  at  all 
hazards." 

"I  am  ready  to  start  this  minute  with  such  tid- 
'   ings,"   gayly  responded  Fred.      "Prince,   poor  fel- 
low, will    have    it   the   hardest,    for   the    roads   are 
awful." 

"That  is  what  I  am  afraid  of,"  replied  the  gen- 
eral. "I  hope  to  be  with  Schoepf  within  a  week, 
but,  owing  to  the  condition  of  the  roads,  it  may 
take  me  much  longer." 

Within  an  hour  Fred  was  on  his  way  back  to 
Somerset.  It  was  a  terrible  journey  over  almost 
impassable  roads;  streams,  icy  cold,  had  to  be 
forded;  but  boy  and  horse  were  equal  to  the  occa- 
sion, and  in  three  days  reached  Somerset. 

How  was  it  with  General  Thomas?  His  week 
lengthened  into  three.  He  commenced  his  march 
from  Lebanon  on  December  31st;  it  was  January 
1 8th  before  he  reached  his  destination.     The  roads 


2o8  GENERAL   NELSON'S   SCOUT. 

seemed  bottomless.  The  rain  poured  in  torrents, 
and  small  streams  were  turned  into  raging  rivers. 
Bridges  were  swept  away,  and  had  to  be  rebuilt. 
The  soldiers,  benumbed  with  chilling  rain,  toiled  on 
over  the  sodden  roads,  cheerful  in  the  thought  that 
they  were  soon  to  meet  the  enemies  of  their  coun- 
try. 

General  Schoepf  received  the  news  of  General 
Thomas'  advance  with  great  satisfaction. 

"If  I  can  only  hold  on,"  he  said,  "until 
Thomas  comes,  everything  will  be  all  right." 

"We  must  show  a  bold  front.  General,"  replied 
Fred,  "and  make  the  enemy  believe  we  have  a 
large  force." 

"It  's  the  enemy  that  is  showing  a  bold  front 
nowadays,"  replied  General  Schoepf,  with  a  faint 
smile.  "They  have  been  particularly  saucy  lately. 
They  have  in  the  last  few  days,  cut  off  two  or  three 
small  scouting  parties.  But  what  worries  me  the 
most  is  that  there  is  hardly  a  night  but  that  every 
man  on  some  one  of  our  picket  posts  is  missing. 
There  is  no  firing,  not  the  least  alarm  of  any  kind, 
but  the  men  in  the  morning  are  gone.  It  is  a 
mystery  we  have  tried  to  solve  in  vain.  At  first 
we  thought  the  men  had  deserted,  but  we  have 
given  that  idea  up.  The  men  are  getting  super- 
stitious over  the  disappearance  of  so  many  of  their 
comrades,  and  are  actually  becoming  demoralized." 
"General,  will  you  turn  this  picket  business  over 
to  me?"  asked  Fred,  quietly. 

"Gladly,"   replied  the  general.      "I  have  heard 


THE  MEETING   OF   THE   COUSINS.  209 

much  of  your  ability  in  ferreting  out  secret  matters. 
Your  success  as  a  scout  I  am  well  acquainted  with, 
as  you  know.  I  hope  you  will  serve  me  as  well  in 
this  matter  of  the  pickets,  for  I  am  at  my  wits' 
end." 

"Well,  General,  to-morrow  I  will  be  at  your  ser- 
vice, and  I  trust  you  will  lose  no  more  pickets  before 
that  time,"  and  so  saying  Fred  took  his  leave,  for 
he  needed  rest  badly. 

The  next  morning,  when  Fred  went  to  pay  his 
respects  to  the  general,  he  found  him  with  a  very 
long  face.  "Another  post  of  four  men  disappeared 
last  night,"  he  said. 

Fred  gave  a  low  whistle.  "Well,  General,  if  pos- 
sible, I  will  try  and  solve  the  problem,  but  it  may 
be  too  hard  for  me." 

' '  Have  you  any  idea  yet  how  they  are  captured  ?' ' 
asked  the  general. 

"None  at  all.  I  must  first  look  over  the  ground 
carefully,  see  how  the  men  are  posted,  talk  with 
them,  and  then  I  may  be  able  to  form  an  idea." 

Fred's  first  business  was  to  ride  out  to  where  the 
post  had  been  captured  during  the  night.  This  he 
did,  noting  the  lay  of  the  ground,  carefully  looking 
for  footprints  not  only  in  front,  but  in  the  rear  of 
where  the  men  had  been  stationed.  He  then  vis- 
ited all  the  picket  posts,  talked  with  the  men, 
learned  their  habits  on  picket,  whether  they  were  as 
watchful  as  they  should  be — in  fact,  not  the  slight- 
est thing  of  importance  escaped  his  notice. 

On  his  return  from  his  tour  of  inspection,  Fred 


2IO  GENERAL   NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

said  to  General  Schoepf,  "Well,  General,  I  have 
my  idea." 

"What  is  it?"  asked  the  general,  greatly  inter- 
ested. 

"Your  pickets  have  been  captured  from  the  rear, 
not  the  front." 

"What  do  you  mean?"  excitedly  asked  the 
general. 

"I  mean  that  some  of  the  pickets  are  so  placed 
that  a  wary  foe  could  creep  in  between  the  posts  and 
come  up  in  the  rear,  completely  surprising  the  men. 
I  think  I  found  evidence  that  the  men  captured  last 
night  were  taken  in  that  way.  I  found,  at  least, 
six  posts  of  which  I  believe  an  enemy  could  get  in 
the  rear  without  detection,  especially  if  the  land 
had  been  spied  out." 

"You  astonish  me,"  said  the  general.  "But 
even  if  this  is  so,  why  does  not  the  sentinel  give  the 
alarm  ?* ' 

"He  may  be  in  such  a  position  that  he  dare 
not,"  answered  Fred. 

"What  do  you  propose?" 

"That  a  double  force  be  put  on  the  posts,  half 
to  watch  the  rear.  It  will  be  my  business  to-night 
to  see  to  that." 

"Very  well,"  replied  General  Schoepf.  "I 
shall  be  very  curious  to  see  how  the  plan  works,  and 
whether  your  idea  is  the  correct  one  or  not." 

"I  will  not  warrant  it.  General,"  replied  Fred, 
"but  there  will  be  no  harm  in  trying." 

Just   before  night  Fred  made  a  second  round  of 


THE  MEETING   OF   THE    COUSINS.  2il 

the  picket  posts,  and  made  careful  inquiry  whether 
any  one  of  the  posts  had  been  visited  during  the 
day  by  any  one  from  the  outside. 

All  of  the  posts  answered  in  the  negative  save 
one.  The  corporal  of  that  post  said:  "Why,  a 
country  boy  was  here  to  sell  us  some  vegetables  and 
eggs. 

"Ah!"  replied  Fred.  "Was  he  a  bright  boy, 
and  did  he  seem  to  notice  things  closely?" 

"On  the  contrary,"  said  the  corporal,  "he  ap- 
peared to  be  remarkably  dull  and  ignorant." 

"Has  the  same  boy  been  in  the  habit  of  selling 
vegetables  to  the  pickets?"  asked  Fred. 

Come  to  think  about  it,  the  corporal  believed  he 
had  heard  such  a  boy  spoken  of. 

Then  one  of  the  men  spoke  up  and  said : 

"You  know  Rankin  was  on  the  post  that  was 
taken  in  last  night.  He  had  a  letter  come  yester- 
day, and  I  took  it  out  to  him,  and  he  told  me  of 
what  a  fine  supper  they  were  going  to  have,  saying 
they  had  bought  some  eggs  and  a  chicken  of  a 
boy." 

"Jerusalem!"  suddenly  exclaimed  the  corporal, 
"that  boy  to-day  walked  to  the  rear  some  little  dis- 
tance— made  an  excuse  for  going;  he  might  not 
have  been  such  a  fool  as  he  looked." 

"Thank  you,"  replied  Fred.  "Corporal,  I  will 
be  here  a  little  after  dark  with  a  squad  of  men  to 
help  you  keep  watch.  In  the  mean  time  keep  a 
sharp  lookout." 

"That   I   will,"    answered   the   corporal.      "Do 


212  GENERAL  NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

you   think   that   boy   was   a  spy?"   he  then  asked, 
with  much  concern. 

"I  don't  know,"  answered  Fred,  "But  such  a 
thing  is  possible.  But  if  any  trouble  occurs  on  the 
picket  line  to-night,  it  will  be  at  this  post." 

That  night  Fred  doubled  the  pickets  on  six  posts 
which  he  considered  the  most  exposed.  But  the 
extra  men  were  to  guard  the  rear  instead  of  the 
front.  The  most  explicit  instructions  were  given, 
and  they  were  cautioned  that  they  were  to  let  no 
alarm  at  the  front  make  them  relax  their  vigilance 
in  the  rear.  Thirty  yards  in  the  rear  of  the  post 
where  he  was  to  watch  Fred  had  noticed  a  small 
ravine  which  led  down  into  a  wood.  It  was 
through  this  ravine  that  he  concluded  the  enemy 
would  creep  if  they  should  try  to  gain  the  rear  of 
the  post.  Fred  posted  his  men  so  as  to  watch  this 
ravine.  To  the  corporal  who  had  charge  of  the 
post,  he  said: 

"My  theory  is,  that  some  one  comes  up  to  your 
sentinel,  and  attracts  his  attention  by  pretending  to 
be  a  friend,  or  perhaps  a  deserter.  This,  of  course, 
will  necessitate  the  sentinel's  calling  for  you,  and 
naturally  attract  the  attention  of  every  man  awake. 
While  this  is  going  on,  a  party  that  has  gained  the 
rear  unobserved  will  rush  on  you  and  be  in  your 
midst  before  you  know  it,  and  you  will  be  taken 
without  a  single  gun  being  fired." 

The  corporal  and  his  men  looked  astonished. 

"Zounds I"  said  one,  "I  believe  it  could  be 
done." 


THE  MEETING   OF   THE   COUSINS.  213 

"Now,"  continued  Fred,  "if  you  are  hailed 
from  the  front  to-night  act  just  as  if  you  had  not 
heard  of  this.      I  will  take  care  of  the  rear." 

When  everything  was  prepared  the  soldiers, 
wrapped  in  their  blankets,  sat  down  to  wait  for 
what  might  come.  So  intently  did  they  listen  that 
the  falling  of  a  leaf  would  startle  them.  The  hours 
passed  slowly  away.  There  was  a  half-moon,  but 
dark  clouds  swept  across  the  sky,  and  only  now  and 
then  she  looked  forth,  hiding  her  face  again  in  a 
moment.  Once  in  a  while  a  dash  of  cold  rain  would 
cause  the  sentinels  to  shiver  and  sink  their  chins 
deeper  into  the  collars  of  their  great  coats. 

Midnight  came,  and  still  all  was  quiet.  The 
soldiers  not  on  guard  lay  wrapped  in  their  blankets, 
some  of  them  in  the  land  of  dreams. 

Off  in  the  woods  the  hoot  of  an  owl  was  heard. 
Instantly  Fred  was  all  attention.  A  few  minutes 
passed,  and  again  the  dismal  "Whoo!  whoo!"  this 
time  much  nearer.  Fred  aroused  his  men.  In- 
stantly they  were  all  attention,  and  every  sense  alert. 

"Have  you  heard  anything?"  whispered  the  ser- 
geant, next  to  him. 

"Nothing  but  the  suspicious  hooting  of  an  owl," 
whispered  back  Fred.  Then  to  the  soldiers,  "Per- 
fectly still,  men;   not  a  sound." 

So  still  ■w:ere  they  that  the  beatings  of  their 
hearts  could  be  heard.  Again  the  dismal  hoot  was 
heard,  this  time  so  near  that  it  startled  them. 

Then  from  the  sentinel  out  in  front  came  the 
short,  sharp  challenge,  "Who  comes  there?" 


214       GENERAL   NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

He  was  answered  immediately.  "A  deserter 
who  wishes  to  come  into  the  lines  and  give  himself 
up." 

"Stand!    Corporal  of  the  guard!" 

The  corporal  went  forward  to  receive  the  de- 
serter. Now  there  came  the  sound  of  swiftly  ad- 
vancing footsteps  in  front  of  the  rear  post,  and  dim 
figures  were  seen  through  the  darkness. 

"Fire!"  shouted  Fred. 

Seven  rifles  belched  forth  their  contents,  and  for 
a  moment  the  flashes  of  the  guns  lighted  up  the 
scene,  and  then  all  was  dark. 

There  were  cries  of  pain,  hoarse  yells  of  surprise 
and  anger,  and  then  a  scattering  volley  returned. 

"Use  your  revolvers,"  shouted  Fred,  and  a 
rapid  fire  was  opened. 

"Fall  back!"  shouted  a  voice  from  the  dark- 
ness. There  were  a  few  more  scattering  shots,  and 
all  was  still. 

The  deserter,  who  was  so  anxious  to  give  him- 
self up,  the  moment  the  alarm  was  given  fired  at 
the  sentinel  and  vanished  in  the  darkness. 

The  sound  of  the  firing  created  the  wildest  com- 
motion in  camp.  The  long  roll  was  beaten;  the 
half-dressed,  frightened  soldiers  came  rolling  out 
of  their  tents,  some  without  their  guns,  others  with- 
out their  cartridge  boxes;  excited  officers  in  their 
night  clothes  ran  through  the  camp,  waving  their 
bare  swords  and  shouting:  "Fall  in,  men,  for 
God's  sake,  fall  in." 

It    was    some    minutes    before    the    excitement 


THE  MEETING   OF   THE   COUSINS.  215 

abated,  and  every  one  was  asking,  "What  is  it? 
what  is  it?" 

The  officer  of  the  day,  with  a  strong  escort, 
came  riding  out  to  where  the  firing  was  heard. 
Being  challenged,  he  gave  the  countersign,  and 
then  hurriedly  asked  what  occasioned  the  firing. 

"Oh,"  cheerfully  responded  Fred,  "they  tried 
to  take  us  in,  and  got  taken  in  themselves." 

An  examination  of  the  ground  in  front  of  where 
Fred's  squad  was  stationed  revealed  two  Confeder- 
ates still  in  death,  and  trails  of  blood  showed  that 
others  had  been  wounded. 

"You  can  go  to  your  quarters,"  said  Fred  to 
his  men.  "You  will  not  be  needed  again  to-night; 
and,  Lieutenant,"  said  he,  turning  to  the  officer  of 
the  day,  "each  and  every  one  of  these  men  de- 
serves thanks  for  his  steadiness  and  bravery. ' ' 

"I  hardly  think.  General,"  said  Fred,  the  next 
morning,  as  he  made  his  report,  "that  your  pickets 
will  be  disturbed  any  more." 

As  for  General  Schoepf,  he  was  delighted,  and 
could  not  thank  Fred  enough. 

For  three  or  four  days  things  were  comparatively 
quiet.  Then  a  small  scouting  party  was  attacked 
and  two  men  captured.  The  next  day  a  larger 
party  was  attacked  and  driven  in,  with  a  loss  of  one 
killed  and  three  wounded.  The  stories  were  the 
same;  the  leader  of  the  Confederates  was  a  young 
lieutenant,  who  showed  the  utmost  bravery  and 
handled  his  men  with  consummate  skill. 

"I  wish,"  said  General  Schoepf  to  Fred,  "that 


2l6  GENERAL  NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

you  would  teach  this  young  lieutenant  the  same 
kind  of  a  lesson  that  you  taught  those  fellows  who 
were  capturing  our  pickets." 

"I  can  try,  General,  but  I  am  afraid  the  job  will 
not  only  be  harder,  but  much  more  dangerous  than 
that  one,"  answered  Fred. 

"This  same  young  lieutenant,"  continued  the 
general,  "may  have  had  a  hand  in  that  picket  busi- 
ness, and  since  he  received  his  lesson  there  has 
turned  his  attention  to  scouting  parties." 

"In  that  case,"  replied  Fred,  "it  will  take  the 
second  lesson  to  teach  him  good  manners.  Well, 
General,  I  will  give  it  to  him,  if  I  can." 

The  next  morning,  with  eight  picked  men  from 
Wolford's  cavalry,  Fred  started  out  in  search  of  ad- 
venture. 

"Don't  be  alarmed,  General,"  said  Fred,  as 
he  rode  away,  "if  we  do  not  come  back  to-night. 
We  may  take  a  notion  to  camp  out." 

Many  of  their  comrades,  with  longing  eyes, 
looked  after  them,  and  wished  they  were  of  the 
number;  yet  they  did  not  know  but  that  every  one 
was  riding  to  death  or  captivity.  Yet  such  is  the 
love  of  adventure  in  the  human  breast  that  the 
most  dangerous  undertakings  will  be  gladly  risked. 

After  riding  west  about  three  miles  Fred  turned 
south  and  went  about  the  same  distance.  He  then 
halted,  and  after  a  careful  survey  of  the  country 
ahead,  said:  "I  think,  boys,  it  will  be  as  well  for 
us  to  leave  the  road  and  take  to  the  woods;  we  must 
be  getting  dangerously  near  the  enemy's  country." 


THE  MEETING   OF   THE   COUSINS.  21 'J 

The  party  turned  from  the  road  and  entered  a 
wood.  Working  their  way  through  this,  skirting 
around  fields,  and  dashing  across  open  places,  after 
making  a  careful  observation  of  the  front,  they 
managed  to  proceed  about  two  miles  further,  when 
they  came  near  the  crossing  of  two  main  roads. 
Here  they  stopped  and  fed  their  horses,  while  the 
men  ate  their  scanty  fare  of  hard  bread  and  bacon. 

They  had  not  been  there  long  before  a  squadron 
of  at  least  200  Confederate  cavalry  came  from  the 
south,  and  turning  west  were  soon  out  of  sight. 

"I  hardly  think,  boys,"  said  Fred,  "it  would 
have  paid  us  to  try  to  take  those  fellows  into  camp ; 
we  will  let  them  go  this  time,"  and  there  was  a 
twinkle  in  his  eye,  although  he  kept  his  face  straight. 

"Just  as  you  say,  capt'in,"  replied  one  of  the 
troopers,  as  he  took  a  chew  of  tobacco.  "We 
would  have  gobbled  them  in  if  you  had  said  the 
word." 

A  little  while  after  this  a  troop  of  ten  horsemen 
came  up  the  same  road,  but  instead  of  turning  west 
they  kept  on  north.  At  the  head  of  the  troop 
rode  a  youthful  officer. 

One  of  the  soldiers  with  Fred  was  one  of  the 
number  that  had  been  attacked  and  defeated  two 
days  before  by  the  squad  of  which  they  were  in 
search. 

"That  's  he,  that  's  the  fellow!"  exclaimed  the 
soldier,  excitedly. 

Fred's  breath  came  thick  and  fast.  What  he 
had  come  for,  fate  had  thrown  in  his  way. 


2l8  GENERAL  NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

"They  are  only  one  more  than  we!"  he  ex- 
claimed, 

"If  they  were  double,  we  would  fight  them," 
cried  the  men  all  together. 

"Let  them  pass  out  of  sight  before  we  pursue," 
said  Fred.  "The  farther  we  get  them  from  their 
lines  the  better." 

"Now,"  said  Fred,  after  they  had  waited  about 
five  minutes.  A  ride  of  a  few  minutes  more 
brought  them  into  the  road.  Halting  a  moment, 
Fred  turned  to  his  men  and  said : 

"Men,  I  know  every  one  of  you  will  do  your 
duty.  All  I  have  to  say  is  obey  orders,  keep  cool, 
and  make  every  shot  count.      Forward!" 

With  a  cheer  they  followed  their  gallant  young 
leader.  After  riding  about  two  miles,  Fred  reined 
up  and  said:  "They  have  not  dodged  us,  have 
they,  boys?  We  ought  to  have  sighted  them  be- 
fore this.  Here  is  where  we  turned  off  of  the  road. 
By  heavens!  I  believe  they  noticed  that  a  squad  of 
horsemen  had  turned  off  into  the  woods,  and  are 
following  the  tracks.  Let  's  see,"  and  Fred 
jumped  from  his  horse,  and  examined  the  tracks 
leading  into  the  woods. 

"That  's  what  they  did,  boys,"  said  he,  look- 
ing up.  "I  will  give  that  lieutenant  credit  for  hav- 
ing sharp  eyes.  Now,  boys,  we  will  give  him  a 
surprise  by  following." 

They  did  not  go  more  than  half  a  mile  before 
they  caught  sight  of  the  Confederates.  Evidently 
they   had   concluded   not  to   follow  the  tracks  any 


THE  MEETING   OF  THE   COUSINS.  219 

farther,  for  they  had  turned  and  were  coming  back, 
and  the  two  parties  must  have  sighted  each  other  at 
nearly  the  same  moment. 

There  was  the  sharp  crack  of  a  carbine,  and  a 
ball  whistled  over  the  Federals'  heads. 

"Steady,  men,"  said  Fred.  "They  are  com- 
ing." 

But  he  was  mistaken.  The  young  lieutenant 
who  led  the  Confederates  was  far  too  careful  a 
leader  to  charge  an  unknown  number  of  men.  In- 
stead of  charging  the  Confederates  dismounted,  and 
leaving  their  horses  in  charge  of  two  of  their  num- 
ber the  rest  deployed  and  advanced,  dodging  from 
tree  to  tree,  and  the  bullets  began  to  whistle  un- 
comfortably close,  one  horse  being  hit. 

"Dismount,  and  take  the  horses  back,"  was 
Fred's  order.  "We  must  meet  them  with  their 
own  game."  The  two  men  who  were  detailed  to 
take  the  horses  back  went  away  grumbling  because 
they  were  not  allowed  to  stay  in  the  fight. 

Telling  them  to  keep  well  covered,  Fred  ad- 
vanced his  men  slightly,  and  soon  the  carbines  were 
cracking  at  a  lively  rate. 

But  the  fight  was  more  noisy  than  dangerous, 
every  man  being  careful  to  keep  a  tree  between 
himself  and  his  foe. 

"This  can  be  kept  up  all  day,"  muttered  Fred, 
"and  only  trees  and  ammunition  will  suffer.  I 
must  try  something  else." 

Orders  were  given  to  fall  back  to  the  horses,  and 
the  men  obeyed  sullenly.      A  word   from  Fred,  and 


220       GENERAL   NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

their  faces  brightened.      Mounting  their  horses,  they 
rode  back  as  if  in  disorderly  retreat. 

As  soon  as  the  Confederates  discovered  the 
movement,  they  rushed  back  for  their  horses, 
mounted,  and  with  wild  hurrahs  started  in  swift 
pursuit  of  what  they  thought  was  a  demoralized 
and  retreating  foe. 

Coming  to  favorable  ground,  Fred  ordered  his 
men  to  wheel  and  charge.  So  sudden  was  the  move- 
ment that  the  Confederates  faltered,  then  halted. 

"Forward!"  cried  their  young  leader,  spurring 
his  horse  on,  but  at  that  moment  a  chance  shot  cut 
one  of  his  bridle  reins.  The  horse  became  unman- 
ageable, and  running  under  the  overhanging 
branches  of  a  tree,  the  gallant  lieutenant  was  hurled 
to  the  ground.  His  men,  dismayed  by  his  fall,  and 
unable  to  withstand  the  impetuous  onslaught  of  the 
Federals,  beat  a  precipitate  retreat,  leaving  their 
commander  and  two  of  their  number  prisoners  in 
the  hands  of  their  foes.  Two  more  of  their  men 
were  grievously  wounded.  Three  of  the  Federals 
had  been  wounded  in  the  melee. 

Fred  dismounted  and  bent  over  the  young  lieu- 
tenant, and  then  started  back  uttering  an  exclama- 
tion of  surprise  and  grief.  He  had  looked  into  the 
face  of  his  cousin,  Calhoun  Pennington.  Hur- 
riedly Fred  placed  his  hand  on  the  fallen  boy's 
heart.  It  was  beating.  There  was  no  sign  of  a 
wound  on  his  body. 

"Thank  God!  He  has  only  been  stunned  by 
the  fall,"  exclaimed  Fred. 


THE  MEETING    OF   THE   COUSINS.  22 1 

In  the  mean  time  the  five  remaining  Confederates 
had  halted  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  away,  and 
were  listening  to  what  a  sergeant,  now  in  com- 
mand, was  saying. 

"Boys,"  he  exclaimed,  "it  will  be  to  our  ever- 
lasting shame  and  disgrace  if  we  run  away  and 
leave  the  lieutenant  in  the  hands  of  those  cursed 
Yankees.  Some  of  them  must  be  disabled,  as  well 
as  some  of  us.  Let  us  charge  and  retake  the  lieu- 
tenant, or  die  to  a  man  in  the  attempt." 

"Here  is  our  hand  on  that,  Sergeant,"  said  each 
one  of  the  four,  and  one  after  the  other  placed  his 
hand  in  that  of  the  grim  old  sergeant. 

But  just  as  they  were  about  to  start  on  their 
desperate  attempt,  they  were  surprised  to  see  Fred 
riding  towards  them,  waving  a  white  handkerchief. 
When  he  came  in  hailing  distance,  he  cried: 

"Men,  your  gallant  young  leader  lies  over  here 
grievously  hurt.  We  are  going  to  withdraw,"  and 
wheeling  his  horse,  he  rode  swiftly  back. 

Fred  hastily  made  preparations  to  withdraw. 
One  of  his  men  was  so  badly  wounded  that  he  had 
to  be  supported  on  his  horse;  therefore  their  prog- 
ress was  slow,  and  it  was  night  before  they  reached 
camp.  Fred  made  his  report  to  General  Schoepf 
and  turned  over  his  two  prisoners.  The  general 
was  well  pleased,  and  extended  to  Fred  and  the 
soldiers  with  him  his  warmest  congratulations. 

"If  you  had  only  brought  in  that  daring  young 
lieutenant  with  you  your  victory  would  have  been 
complete,"  said  the  general. 


222  GENERAL   NELSON'S   SCOUT. 

"I  hardly  think,  General,"  said  Fred,  "that  you 
will  be  troubled  with  him  any  more.  He  was  still 
insensible  when  we  left,  and  with  my  three  wounded 
men  and  the  two  prisoners  it  was  well-nigh  an  im- 
possibility for  us  to  bring  him  in." 

"I  know,"  replied  the  General,  "and  as  you  say, 
I  think  we  have  had  the  last  of  him." 

"I  sincerely  hope  so,"  was  Fred's  answer  as  he 
turned  away,  and  it  meant  more  than  the  general 
thought.  Fred  had  a  horror  of  meeting  his  cousin 
in  conflict,  and  devoutly  prayed  he  might  never  do 
so  again.  He  slept  little  that  night.  Every  time 
he  closed  his  eyes  he  could  see  the  pale  face  of  his 
cousin  lying  there  in  the  wood,  and  the  thought 
that  he  might  be  dangerously  hurt,  perhaps  dead, 
filled  him  with  terror.  "Why,"  he  asked  himself 
over  and  over  again,  "did  the  fortune  of  war  bring 
us  together?" 

Let  us  return  to  the  scene  of  the  conflict,  and 
see  how  Calhoun  is  getting  along.  The  Confeder- 
ates received  Fred's  message  with  surprise. 

"That  lets  us  out  of  a  mighty  tough  scrape," 
remarked  the  sergeant.  "We  must  have  hurt  them 
worse  than  we  thought." 

"Do  n't  know  about  that,"  answered  one  of  his 
men  who  was  watching  the  Federals  as  they  retired. 
"There  is  only  one  of  them  who  appears  to  be 
badly  hurt;  and  they  have  poor  Moon  and  Hunt  in 
limbo,  sure." 

"Better  be  prisoners  than  dead,"  answered  the 
sergeant.     "But,    boys,    let   us   to   the   lieutenant. 


THE  MEETING   OF   THE   COUSINS.  223 

It  's  strange  the  Yanks  did  n't  try  to  take  him 
back. 

When  they  reached  Calhoun,  he  was  already 
showing  signs  of  returning  consciousness,  and  in  a 
few  minutes  he  was  able  to  sit  up  and  converse. 

"Where  are  the  Yankees?"  was  his  first  ques- 
tion. 

"Gone." 

"Then  we  whipped  them  after  all,"  and  his  face 
lighted  up  with  joy. 

"Can't  say  that  we  did.  Lieutenant,"  answered 
the  sergeant;  "but  they  left  mighty  sudden  for 
some  reason." 

Calhoun  looked  around  on  his  men  with  a 
troubled  countenance.  "I  see  only  five  of  you," 
he  said;  "where  are  the  rest?" 

"Two  are  back  nursing  wounds,"  answered  the 
sergeant.  "Sheldon  is  hit,  so  hard  hit  I  am  afraid 
he  is  done  for.  As  for  Moon  and  Hunt,  they  have 
gone  off  with  the  Yanks." 

"Prisoners?" 

The  sergeant  nodded. 

The  tears  rolled  down  the  cheeks  of  the  young 
officer.  "Boys,"  he  said,  chokingly,  "I  believe  I 
have  lost  my  grip.  There  was  that  last  picket 
affair  that  went  against  us,  and  now  we  are  all 
broken  up  in  a  fair  combat." 

"Don't  take  on.  Lieutenant,"  said  the  sergeant, 
soothingly.  "It  was  that  chance  bullet  that  cut 
your  bridle  rein  that  did  the  business.  If  it  had  n't 
been  for  that  we  would  have  wiped  them  out,  sure. 


224  GENERAL   NELSON'S   SCOUT. 

As  it  is,  we  are  thankful  they  did  n't  take  a  notion 
to  lug  you  off." 

"Perhaps  they  thought  I  was  dead." 

"No,  they  didn't,"  replied  the  sergeant,  and 
then  he  told  Calhoun  what  had  happened. 

"What  kind  of  a  looking  man  was  the  leader  of 
the  Yanks?"  asked  Calhoun. 

"He  was  a  boy,  no  older  than  yourself.  He  was 
mounted  on  a  magnificent  bay  horse  with  a  star  in 
the  forehead. 

"I  see  it  all,"  sighed  Calhoun.  "The  leader  of 
that  party  was  my  cousin,  Fred  Shackelford.  He 
knew  me,  and  he  spared  me.  Boys,  help  me  on 
my  horse.  I  am  badly  shaken  up,  but  not  seriously 
hurt.  We  will  square  accounts  with  those  fellows 
one  of  these  days." 

And  the  little  party,  bearing  their  wounded,  sadly 
wended  their  way  back  to  the  Confederate  camp. 

For  the  next  few  days  the  weather  was  so  bad 
and  the  roads  in  such  a  terrible  condition  that  both 
armies  were  comparatively  quiet.  Nothing  as  yet 
had  been  heard  from  the  advance  of  General 
Thomas,  and  General  Schoepf  began  to  be  very 
uneasy.  At  last  Fred  offered  to  ride  toward  Co- 
lumbia, and  see  if  he  could  not  get  some  tidings  of 
the  missing  column.  The  offer  was  gladly  ac- 
cepted, and  Fred  set  out.  He  met  with  no  adven- 
ture until  about  fifteen  miles  from  Somerset,  when 
he  suddenly  came  face  to  face  with  a  young  soldier, 
and  he  supposed  a  Federal,  as  he  wore  a  blue  great 
coat.      But  a  second  look  caused  a  cry  of  surprise  to 


THE  MEETING   OF   THE   COUSINS.  225 

burst  from  Fred's  lips,  and  at  the  same  time  the 
supposed  Federal  soldier  snatched  a  revolver  from 
the  holster.  The  cousins  were  once  more  face  to 
face. 

"Put  up  your  revolver,  Calhoun,"  cried  Fred. 
"Is  that  the  way  you  greet  your  cousin?" 

For  a  moment  Calhoun  gazed  on  Fred  in  silence, 
then  raising  his  hand  in  courtly  salute,  he  suddenly 
turned  his  horse,  and  jumping  him  over  a  low 
fence,  disappeared  in  a  copse  of  wood. 

Fred  was  on  the  point  of  raising  his  voice  to  call 
him  back,  when  it  flashed  upon  him  that  Calhoun 
had  been  playing  the  spy,  and  that  he  dare  not 
stop,  even  for  a  moment. 

"He  was  only  stunned  after  all,  when  he  was 
hurled  from  his  horse,"  thought  Fred.  "I  am  so 
glad ;  a  heavy  load  has  been  lifted  from  my  mind. 
I  am  also  glad  he  has  gone  now.  It  would  have 
been  extremely  awkward  for  me  to  have  found  out 
he  was  a  spy,  and  then  let  him  go." 

It  was  with  a  lighter  heart  that  he  pursued  his 
journey,  but  he  had  gone  but  a  short  distance  when 
he  met  a  courier  from  General  Thomas  with  dis- 
patches for  General  Schoepf.  He  was  informed 
that  the  advance  of  General  Thomas  was  but  a 
short  distance  in  the  rear.  A  few  moments  more 
and  Fred  was  in  the  presence  of  his  general. 

"Ah,  Shackelford!"  said  Thomas,  "I  am  glad 
to  see  you.      How  is  everything  at  Somerset?" 

"All  right.  General,  only  General  Schoepf  has 
been  sorely  worried  over  your  non-appearance." 


226  GENERAL   NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

'*I  do  not  wonder.  The  march  has  been  an 
awful  one,  and  has  taken  three  times  as  long  as  I 
expected.  But  we  will  be  at  Logan's  Cross  Roads 
to-night,  where  I  shall  halt  to  concentrate  my  army. 
If  the  enemy  does  not  retreat,  we  may  look  for  a 
lively  time  in  about  three  days." 

"The  lively  time,  General,  may  come  before 
three  days,"  answered  Fred,  significantly. 

"How  is  that?"  asked  Thomas,  looking  sur- 
prised. 

' '  The  Rebels  may  conclude, ' '  answered  Fred, ' '  to 
attack  you  before  you  can  bring  up  the  rest  of  your 
force,  or  get  aid  from  Somerset.  Fishing  Creek  is 
very  high ;  I  had  to  swim  it.  It  will  be  almost  im- 
possible to  get  infantry  or  artillery  over." 

"I  have  thought  of  that,"  replied  the  general, 
smiling.  ' '  I  shall  try  and  be  ready  for  them  if  they 
come." 


CHAPTER    XIV. 

THE   BATTLE   OF   MILL   SPRINGS. 

FRED  was  right  in  his  surmise  that  Calhoun  had 
been  acting  the  part  of  a  spy.  He  had  been 
playing  a  very  dangerous  game,  and  had  been  suc- 
cessful. Disguised  as  a  country  boy,  he  had  boldly 
entered  Columbia,  and  in  a  great  measure  had 
fathomed  the  plans  of  General  Thomas.  It  was  a 
matter  of  common  report  that  as  soon  as  the  army 
could  be  concentrated,  General  ZollicofTer  would  be 
attacked.  Calhoun  had  made  a  careful  estimate  of 
the  strength  of  Thomas'  army,  and  when  met  by 
Fred  he  was  taking  an  observation  of  his  order  of 
march,  and  how  long  it  would  take  the  rear  brigade 
to  reinforce  the  advance  brigade,  if  it  should  be  at- 
tacked. 

The  sudden  meeting  with  Fred  was  a  surprise  to 
him.  But  when  he  heard  Fred's  voice  he  knew 
his  life  was  in  no  danger;  yet  he  dare  not  tarry, 
even  for  a  moment,  and  so  escaped  as  we  have 
seen. 

No  sooner  was  he  out  of  sight  of  Fred  than  he 
checked  his  horse.  "That  was  a  lucky  escape,"  he 
said  to  himself.  "If  I  had  to  meet  any  one,  it  was 
fortunate    I    met   Fred.       Poor   fellow!      I    wonder 

227 


228  GENERAL   NELSON'S   SCOUT. 

what  he  thought  of  me!  I  would  so  much  Hke  to 
have  a  talk  with  him,  but  it  would  have  been  mad- 
ness to  have  stopped,  and  then  it  would  have  placed 
him  in  a  very  awkward  predicament.  Selim,  old 
boy,"  continued  he,  patting  his  horse's  neck,  "we 
have  work  yet  before  us ;  we  must  see  where  Gen- 
eral Thomas  camps." 

It  was  early  on  the  morning  of  January  i8th 
that  Calhoun  rode  into  the  Confederate  camp  at 
Beech  Grove.  Without  changing  his  mud-bespat- 
tered garments,  he  at  once  sought  the  quarters  of 
Major-General  G.  B.  Crittenden,  who  had  been 
placed  in  chief  command  of  the  army. 

"Ah,  Lieutenant,"  exclaimed  the  general,  "I 
am  glad  to  see  you.  I  have  been  thinking  of  you, 
and  blaming  myself  for  permitting  you  to  go  on 
your  hazardous  adventure.  He  who  acts  as  a  spy 
takes  his  life  in  his  hands." 

"It  is  an  old  saying  that  'all  is  well  that  ends 
well,'  "  Calhoun  answered,  smiling.  "You  ought 
to  have  seen  what  a  splendid  country  bumpkin  I 
made;  and  I  have  succeeded  beyond  my  most 
sanguine  expectations.  I  have  very  important  news 
for  you,  General.  General  Thomas  is  now  en- 
camped at  Logan's  Cross  Roads,  only  ten  miles 
away.  He  will  wait  there  for  his  rear  brigade,  and 
also  for  reinforcements  from  Somerset.  He  has 
only  one  brigade  with  him,  numbering  not  much 
over  4,000  men." 

Calhoun  then  went  on  and  gave  General  Critten- 
den  the   full   details  of  the  strength  of  the  Federal 


THE  BATTLE   OF  MILL   SPRINGS.  229 

army,  saying  that  he  thought  the  rear  brigade  of 
Thomas'  army  could  not  reach  Logan's  Cross 
Roads  for  at  least  two  days,  and  that  owing  to  the 
height  of  water  in  Fishing  Creek  he  believed  it  im- 
possible for  Thomas  to  receive  reinforcements  from 
Somerset. 

* '  If  these  forces  all  combine,  General, ' '  continued 
Calhoun,  "they  will  so  far  outnumber  us  that  it 
would  be  madness  to  risk  a  battle.  To-morrow 
Thomas  will  be  isolated ;  his  force  is  inferior  to 
yours.      I  believe  he  can  be  crushed." 

"You  think  that  your  information  as  to  numbers 
and  position  is  absolutely  correct,  do  you?"  asked 
the  general. 

"I  do,  General,"  answered  Calhoun.  "If  you 
attack  General  Thomas  in  the  morning  I  am  confi- 
dent you  will  attack  with  a  superior  force." 

"It  is  either  that  or  a  disastrous  retreat,"  said 
the  general,  gravely.  "I  will  call  a  council  of  my 
officers  at  once.  I  wish  you  to  appear  before 
them." 

"As  soon  as  I  can  get  off  some  of  this  mud  I 
will  be  ready,"  answered  Calhoun. 

The  council  was  called,  and  General  Crittenden 
laid  the  facts  before  his  officers.  Calhoun  was 
asked  a  great  many  questions,  to  all  of  which  he 
gave  full  and  sufficient  answers.  The  council, 
without  a  dissenting  voice,  voted  to  attack  Thomas 
the  next  morning. 

It  was  nearly  midnight  when  the  Confederates 
marched  out  of  their  entrenchments.  General  Zolli- 


230  GENERAL  NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

coffer's  brigade  having  the  advance.  Calhoun  acted 
as  aid  on  the  staff  of  General  Crittenden.  The  dis- 
tance, ten  miles,  made  a  fearful  night  march,  con- 
sidering the  roads.  Calhoun  afterwards  said  that  it 
was  one  of  the  worst  marches  he  ever  made.  The 
night  was  dark  and  gloomy.  A  cold  drizzling  rain 
fell  that  chilled  the  soldiers  to  the  very  bone. 
Through  the  rain  and  the  mud  for  hour  after  hour 
the  brave  men  of  the  Confederacy  toiled  on,  ani- 
mated by  the  hope  that  they  would  soon  meet  and 
hurl  back  in  inglorious  defeat  the  men  whom  they 
considered  ruthless  invaders  of  their  soil.  It  took 
nearly  seven  hours  to  march  that  ten  miles,  every 
step  being  taken  through  mud  and  water,  some- 
times nearly  knee  deep. 

Just  as  the  gray  shadows  in  the  east  betokened 
the  ushering  in  of  the  short  January  day,  the  crack! 
crack!  of  guns  in  front  told  that  the  Federal  pickets 
had  been  alarmed.  The  sharp  reports  of  those 
guns  as  they  echoed  back  along  the  mud-stained 
ranks  caused  the  weary  soldier  to  forget  his  weari- 
ness. The  cold  was  no  longer  felt,  the  excitement 
of  the  coming  battle  sent  the  blood  tingling  through 
the  veins. 

It  is  time  to  turn  now  to  General  Thomas  and 
his  little  army  that  lay  encamped  at  Logan's  Cross 
Roads  in  the  darkness  and  shadows  of  that  gloomy 
night.  Couriers  had  been  sent  back  to  hurry  up 
the  rear  brigade;  orders  had  been  sent  to  General 
Schoepf  to  at  once  forward  three  regiments,  but 
General  Thomas  well  knew  if  he  was  attacked  in  the 


THE  BATTLE   OF  MILL   SPRINGS.  231 

morning  none  of  these  reinforcements  would  reach 
him. 

The  general  sat  in  his  tent,  listening  to  Fred 
giving  an  account  of  what  had  happened  at  Somer- 
set during  the  three  weeks  he  had  been  there.  He 
was  especially  interested  in  the  account  Fred  gave 
of  his  picket  fight. 

"That,  Shackelford,"  said  the  general,  "was 
strategy  worthy  of  a  much  older  head.  Your  little 
fight  was  also  admirably  managed." 

"I  had  rather  it  had  been  against  any  one  than 
my  cousin,"  answered  Fred. 

"Such  things  cannot  be  avoided,"  answered 
Thomas,  with  a  sigh.  "This  is  an  unhappy  war. 
I  am  a  Virginian,  and  must  fight  against  those  who 
are  near  and  dear  to  me." 

Fred  did  not  answer;  he  was  thinking  of  his 
father. 

The  general  sat  as  if  buried  in  deep  thought  for 
a  moment,  and  then  suddenly  looking  up,  said: 

"Shackelford,  you  know  when  we  were  going 
into  camp  this  evening  that  you  said  you  feared  an 
attack  in  the  morning." 

"I  am  almost  positive  of  it,  General,"  was 
Fred's  reply. 

"Will  you  give  me  your  reasons?" 

"Because  the  enemy  is  well  posted  and  must 
know  that  you  mean  to  attack  them  when  your 
forces  are  consolidated,  and  your  army  will  be  so 
strong  they  cannot  hope  to  stand  before  it.  I  am 
also   of  the   opinion  that  they  are  well  informed  of 


232  CENERAL   NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

your  isolated  position  here;  that  one  of  your  bri- 
gades is  two  days'  march  in  the  rear,  also  that 
owing  to  the  high  stage  of  water  in  Fishing  Creek 
it  will  be  impossible  for  General  Schoepf  to  rein- 
force you  for  a  day  or  two.  I  also  believe  that  the 
enemy  has  a  fair  estimate  of  your  exact  strength." 

During  this  speech  of  Fred's  the  general  listened 
intently,  and  then  said :  "You  have  a  better  idea 
of  my  actual  position  than  I  trust  most  of  my  ofifi- 
cers  have,  but  you  said  some  things  which  need  ex- 
plaining. On  what  grounds  do  you  base  your  be- 
lief that  the  enemy  are  so  well  acquainted  with 
my  situation  and  strength?" 

"No  positive  proof.  General,  but  an  intuition 
which  I  cannot  explain.  But  this  impression  is  also 
based  on  more  solid  ground  than  intuition.  Yes- 
terday, just  before  I  met  your  advance,  I  met  a 
man  in  our  uniform.  When  he  saw  me  he  jumped 
his  horse  over  a  fence  and  disappeared  in  a  wood. 
I  am  almost  certain  he  was  a  spy.  To-day  I 
caught  a  glimpse  of  that  same  man  in  the  woods 
yonder  on  our  right." 

Thomas  mused  a  moment,  and  then  said:  "If 
the  Confederate  general  fully  knows  our  situation 
and  strength,  he  is  foolish  if  he  does  not  attack 
me.  But  if  he  does,  I  shall  try  and  be  ready  for 
him." 

The  general  then  once  more  carefully  examined 
his  maps  of  the  country,  gave  orders  that  a  very 
strong  picket  should  be  posted,  and  that  well  in 
advance    of   the   infantry    pickets    cavalry    videttes 


THE  BATTLE   OF  MILL   SPRINGS.  233 

should  be  placed,  and  that  the  utmost  vigilance 
should  be  exercised. 

Then  turning  to  Fred,  he  said:  "If  your  ex- 
pectations are  realized  in  the  morning,  you  may  act 
as  one  of  my  aids.  And  now,  gentlemen,"  said 
he,  turning  to  his  staff,  "for  some  sleep;  we  must 
be  astir  early  in  the  morning." 

In  the  gray  light  of  the  early  morning,  from 
away  out  in  front,  there  came  the  faint  report  of 
rifles.  Nearer  and  more  rapid  grew  the  firing. 
Early  as  it  was,  General  Thomas  and  staff  had  had 
their  breakfast,  and  every  soldier  was  prepared. 

General  Manson,  in  command  of  the  advance 
regiments,  came  galloping  back  to  headquarters. 

"General,"  he  said,  "we  are  attacked  in  force." 

"Go  back,"  replied  General  Thomas,  without 
betraying  any  more  excitement  than  if  he  were 
ordering  his  men  out  on  review,  "form  your  men 
in  the  most  advantageous  position,  and  hold  the 
enemy  until  I  can  bring  up  the  rest  of  the  troops." 

In  a  trice  aids  were  galloping  in  every  direction. 
Fred  found  enough  to  do.  The  fitful  reports  of 
guns  in  front  had  become  a  steady  roll  of  musketry. 
The  loud  mouth  of  the  cannon  joined  in,  and  the 
heavy  reverberations  rolled  over  field  and  through 
forest.  In  an  incredibly  short  time  every  regiment 
was  in  motion  towards  where  the  heavy  smoke  of 
battle  was  already  hanging  over  the  field. 

Of  all  the  thousands,  the  general  commanding 
seemed  the  most  unconcerned.  He  leisurely 
mounted   his  horse  and  trotted  toward  the  conflict. 


234  GENERAL  NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

His  eye  swept  the  field,  and  as  the  regiments  came 
up  they  were  placed  just  where  they  were  needed. 
His  manner  inspired  every  one  who  saw  him  with 
confidence. 

To  Fred  the  scene  was  inexpressibly  grand. 
This,  then,  was  a  battle.  The  wild  cheering  of 
men,  the  steady  roll  of  musketry,  the  deep  bass  of 
cannon,  thrilled  him  with  an  excitement  never  felt 
before.  The  singing  of  the  balls  made  strange 
music  in  his  ears.  Now  and  then  a  shell  or  solid 
shot  would  crash  through  the  forest  and  shatter  the 
trees  as  with  a  thunderbolt.  Soon  a  thin  line  of 
men  came  staggering  back,  some  holding  up  an  arm 
streaming  with  blood,  others  hobbling  along  using 
their  guns  as  crutches.  A  few,  wild  with  fear, 
had  thrown  away  their  guns,  and  were  rushing 
back,  lost  to  shame,  lost  to  honor,  lost  to  every- 
thing but  an  insane  desire  to  get  out  of  that  hell  of 
fire. 

Fred  was  a  born  soldier.  At  first  there  was  a 
lump  in  the  throat,  as  if  the  heart  was  trying  to  get 
away,  a  slight  trembling  of  the  limbs,  a  momentary 
desire  to  get  out  of  danger,  and  then  he  was  as  cool 
and  collected  as  if  on  parade.  Through  the  storm 
of  balls  he  rode,  delivering  his  orders  with  a  smiling 
face,  and  a  word  of  cheer.  General  Thomas  noticed 
the  coolness  of  his  aid,  and  congratulated  him  on 
his  soldierly  qualities. 

On  the  left,  in  front  of  the  Fourth  Kentucky 
Regiment,  the  battle  was  being  waged  with  obsti- 
nate fury.      Colonel  Fry,  seeing  Fred,  rode  up  to 


THE  BATTLE   OF  MILL   SPRINGS.  235 

him,  and  said:  "Tell  General  Thomas  I  must  have 
reinforcements  at  once;  the  enemy  is  flanking  me." 

Away  went  Fred  to  deliver  the  order. 

"Say  to  Colonel  Fry,"  said  Thomas,  "that  I 
will  at  once  forward  the  aid  required.  Until  the 
reinforcements  come,  tell  him  to  hold  his  position 
at  all  hazards." 

The  message  was  delivered.  Fry  compressed 
his  lips,  glanced  along  his  line,  saw  the  point  of 
greatest  danger,  and  quickly  ordered  two  of  his 
left  companies  to  the  right,  leading  them  in  person, 
Fred  going  with  him. 

An  ofificer  enveloped  in  a  large  gray  coat  sud- 
denly rode  out  of  the  wood,  and  galloping  up  to 
them  shouted:  "For  God's  sake,  stop  firing!  You 
are  firing  on  your  own  men." 

Just  then  two  other  ofificers  rode  up  to  the  one 
in  a  gray  cloak.  Seeing  Colonel  Fry  and  Fred, 
they  at  once  fired  on  them.  Colonel  Fry  was 
slightly  wounded,  but  Fred  was  untouched.  As 
quick  as  thought  both  returned  the  fire.  The 
ofificer  at  whom  Fred  fired  reeled  in  his  saddle,  then 
straightened  up  and  galloped  to  the  rear.  Colonel 
Fry  fired  at  the  officer  in  the  gray  cloak.  He  threw 
up  his  arms,  and  then  plunged  headlong  to  the 
ground. 

The  bullet  from  Colonel  Fry's  pistol  had  pierced 
the  heart  of  General  ZoUicoffer. 

The  battle  now  raged  along  the  entire  line  with 
great  fury.  The  lowering  clouds  grew  darker, 
and  the  pitiless  rain,  cold  and  icy,  fell  on  the  up- 


236  GENERAL  NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

turned  faces  of  the  dead.  The  cruel  storm  beat 
upon  the  wounded,  and  they  shivered  and  moaned 
as  their  Hfe's  blood  ebbed  away.  The  smoke  set- 
tled down  over  the  field  and  hid  the  combatants 
from  view,  but  through  the  gloom  the  flashes  of 
the  guns  shone  like  fitful  tongues  of  flame.  Then 
the  Federal  line  began  to  press  forward,  and  soon 
the  whole  Confederate  army  was  in  full  retreat. 

It  was  at  this  time  that  Fred's  attention  was  at- 
tracted to  a  young  Confederate  officer,  who  was 
trying  to  rally  his  men.  Bravely  did  he  strive  to 
stay  the  panic,  but  suddenly  Fred  saw  him  falter, 
sway  to  and  fro,  and  then  fall.  Once  more  did  the 
Confederates  try  to  rally  under  the  leadership  of  a 
young  mounted  officer,  but  they  were  swept  aside, 
and  the  battle  was  over, 

Fred's  first  thought  was  for  the  young  Confeder- 
ate officer  whom  he  saw  fall  while  trying  to  rally 
his  men.  There  was  something  about  him  that 
seemed  familiar.  Could  it  be  Calhoun?  Fred's 
heart  stood  still  at  the  thought.  Fred  soon  found 
the  object  of  his  search.  He  was  lying  on  his  side, 
his  head  resting  on  his  left  arm,  his  right  hand  still 
grasping  his  sword,  a  smile  on  his  face.  As  Fred 
looked  on  the  placid  face  of  the  dead,  a  groan  burst 
from  him,  and  the  tears  gushed  from  his  eyes. 
With  his  handkerchief  he  wiped  away  the  grime  of 
battle,  and  there,  in  all  his  manly  beauty,  Bailie 
Peyton  lay  before  him,  Fred's  thoughts  flew 
back  to  that  day  at  Gallatin,  No  more  would 
those   eloquent   lips   hold    entranced   a   spellbound 


The  Ijattle  now  raged  along  the  entire  line  with  great  fury. 


THE  BATTLE   OF  MILL   SPRINGS.  237 

audience.  No  more  would  his  fiery  words  stir  the 
hearts  of  his  countrymen,  even  as  the  wind  stirs 
the  leaves  of  the  forest. 

Tenderly  did  Fred  have  him  carried  back  and 
laid  by  the  side  of  his  fallen  chieftain.  Both 
were  given  the  honor  due  them.  As  soon  as  pos- 
sible the  remains  of  both  were  forwarded  through 
the  lines  to  Nashville. 

It  was  not  the  city  that  Fred  saw  in  August. 
Then  it  was  wild  and  hilarious  with  joy,  carried 
away  with  the  pomp  and  glory  of  war.  ZoUicoffer 
was  the  idol  of  the  people  of  Tennessee;  Bailie 
Peyton  of  its  young  men.  That  both  should  fall 
in  the  same  battle  plunged  Nashville  in  deepest 
mourning. 

When  the  bodies  arrived,  it  was  a  city  of  tears. 
Flags  floated  at  half-mast ;  women  walked  the 
streets  wringing  their  hands  and  weeping  bitter 
tears.  Their  idols  lay  dead.  Poor  Nashville!  She 
was  to  drink  still  deeper  of  the  bitter  cup  of  war. 


CHAPTER   XV. 

A  FIGHT  WITH   GUERRILLAS. 

BACK  over  the  ten  miles  that  they  had  marched 
through  the  darkness  and  rain,  the  Confed- 
erate army  fled  in  the  wildest  confusion.  Swift  in 
pursuit  came  the  victorious  army  of  Thomas.  Be- 
fore night  his  cannon  were  shelling  the  entrench- 
ments at  Beech  Grove.  There  was  no  rest  for  the 
hungry,  weary,  despondent  Confederates.  In  the 
darkness  of  the  night  they  stole  across  the  river, 
and  then  fled,  a  demoralized  mob,  leaving  every- 
thing but  themselves  in  the  hands  of  the  victors. 

The  next  morning  an  ofificer  came  to  Fred  and 
said  one  of  the  prisoners  would  like  to  see  him. 

"One  of  the  prisoners  would  like  to  see  me," 
asked  Fred,  in  surprise.     "What  for?" 

"I  don't  know,"  answered  the  officer.  "But 
he  is  a  plucky  chap;  it  's  the  young  lieutenant  who 
headed  the  last  rally  of  the  Rebs.  He  fought  until 
he  was  entirely  deserted  by  his  men  and  surrounded 
by  us;  he  then  tried  to  cut  his  way  out,  but  his 
horse  was  shot  and  he  captured." 

"Good  heavens!"  exclaimed  Fred.  "It  must  be 
Calhoun,"  and  he  rushed  to  where  the  prisoners 
were  confined. 

238 


A   FIGHT    WITH  GUERRILLAS.  239 

''Calhoun!" 
"Fred!" 

And  the  boys  were  in  each  other's  arms. 

"Cal,  you  don't  know  how  glad  I  am  to  see 
you,"  exclaimed  Fred. 

"Bonds  and  all?"  answered  Calhoun,  with  a 
dash  of  his  old  spirits. 

"No,"  said  Fred;  "like  St.  Paul,  I  will  say 
'except  these  bonds.'  But  Calhoun,  I  must  have 
a  good  long  talk  with  you  in  private." 

"Not  much  privacy  here,  Fred,"  said  Calhoun, 
looking  around  at  the  crowd  that  was  staring  at 
them. 

Fred  went  to  General  Thomas  and  told  him  that 
his  cousin  was  among  the  prisoners,  and  asked  per- 
mission to  take  him  to  his  quarters.  The  permis- 
sion was  readily  given,  and  the  boys  had  the  day 
and  night  to  themselves. 

How  they  did  talk,  and  how  much  they  had  to 
tell  each  other!  First  Fred  had  to  tell  Calhoun  all 
about  himself. 

When  he  had  finished  Calhoun  grasped  his  hand 
and  exclaimed:  "Fred,  I  am  proud  of  you,  if  you 
are  fighting  with  the  Yanks.  How  I  would  like  to 
ride  by  your  side!  But  of  all  your  adventures,  the 
one  with  poor  Robert  Ferror  touches  me  deepest. 
Poor  fellow!  he  should  have  lived.  He  must  have 
had  a  great  deal  of  pure  gold  about  him,  notwith- 
standing his  cowardly  crime." 

"He  did,"  sighed  Fred,  "he  did;  and  yet  I  can 
never  think  of  the  assassination  of  Captain  Bascom 


240  GENERAL  NELSON'S   SCOUT. 

without  a  shudder.  On  the  other  hand,  I  can 
never  think  of  Ferror's  death  without  tears.  As  I 
think  of  him  now,  I  am  of  the  opinion  that  the 
indignities  heaped  upon  him  had,  in  a  measure,  un- 
balanced his  mind,  and  that  the  killing  of  Bascom 
was  the  act  of  an  insane  person.  But,  Cal,  I  hate 
to  talk  about  it ;  that  night  of  horrors  always  gives 
me  the  shivers.      So  tell  me  all  about  yourself." 

"There  is  not  much  to  tell,"  answered  Calhoun. 
"You  know  I  left  Danville  with  your  father  for 
Bowling  Green.  Owing  to  the  influence  of  my 
father,  I  was  commissioned  a  second  lieutenant  and 
given  a  place  on  the  staff  of  Governor  Johnson. 
You  know  a  provisional  State  government  was 
organized  at  Bowling  Green,  and  G.  M.  Johnson 
appointed  Governor.  When  General  Buckner  tried 
to  capture  Louisville  by  surprise,  and  you  objected 
by  throwing  the  train  off  the  track,  I  was  one  of  the 
victims  of  the  outrage.  I  recognized  you,  just  as 
your  father  ordered  the  volley  fired." 

"My  father!"  gasped  Fred.  "My  father!  did 
he  order  that  volley  fired  at  me?" 

"Yes;  but  he  did  not  know  it  was  you  when  he 
gave  the  order.  When  I  called  out  it  was  you,  he 
nearly  fainted,  and  would  have  fallen  if  one  of  his 
officers  had  not  caught  him.  He  wanted  to  resign 
then  and  there,  but  General  Buckner  would  not 
hear  of  it.  Really,  Fred,  I  think  he  would  have 
ordered  that  volley  even  if  he  had  known  you ;  but 
if  you  had  been  killed,  he  would  have  killed  him- 
self afterward." 


A   FTGHT    WITH  GUERRILLAS.  24 1 

"Poor  father!"  sighed  Fred.  "He  loves  me 
even  if  he  has  disowned  me." 

"Well,"  continued  Calhoun,  "to  make  a  long 
story  short,  I  became  prodigiously  jealous  of  you. 
You  were  covering  yourself  with  glory  while  I  was 
sitting  around  doing  nothing.  It  was  awful  dull  at 
Bowling  Green.  As  ZolHcoffer  appeared  to  be  the 
only  one  of  the  Confederate  generals  who  was  at  all 
active,  I  asked  and  received  permission  to  join  him, 
where  I  was  given  a  roving  commission  as  a  scout. 
If  I  do  say  it,  I  made  it  rather  lively  for  you  fel- 
lows. At  length  I  hit  upon  a  nice  little  plan  of 
capturing  your  pickets,  and  was  quite  successful 
until  you  found  it  out  and  put  an  end  to  my  fun." 

"Calhoun,"  exclaimed  Fred,  in  surprise,  "was 
it  you  with  whom  I  had  that  night  fight?" 

"It  was,  and  you  came  near  making  an  end  of 
your  hopeful  cousin,  I  can  tell  you.  Out  of  seven 
men,  I  had  two  killed  and  four  wounded.  Only 
one  man  and  myself  escaped  unhurt,  and  I  had 
three  bullet  holes  through  my  clothes.  That  put 
an  end  to  my  raids  upon  your  pickets,  and  I  con- 
fined myself  to  scouting  once  more.  Then  came 
that  unlucky  fight  with  you  in  the  woods.  Fred,  I 
m.ust  congratulate  you  on  the  way  you  managed 
that.  Your  retreat  showed  me  your  exact  strength, 
and  I  thought  I  could  wipe  you  off  the  face  of  the 
earth.  Your  sudden  wheel  and  charge  took  us 
completely  by  surprise,  and  disconcerted  my  men. 
That  shot  which  cut  my  bridle  rein  took  me  out  of 
the  fight,  and  perhaps  it  was  just  as  well  for  me 


243  GENERAL  NELSON'S   SCOUT. 

that  it  did.  When  I  came  to  and  found  out  what 
had  been  done,  I  at  once  knew  you  must  have  been 
in  command  of  the  squad,  and  if  I  could  I  would 
have  hugged  you  for  your  generosity." 

"Cal,"'  replied  Fred,  his  voice  trembling  with 
emotion,  "you  can  hardly  realize  my  feelings  when 
I  saw  you  lying  pale  and  senseless  there  before  me ; 
it  took  all  the  fight  out  of  me." 

"I  know,  I  know,"  answered  Calhoun,  laying 
his  hand  caressingly  on  Fred's  shoulder.  "I  was 
badly  shaken  up  by  that  fall,  but  not  seriously  hurt. 
Now,  comes  the  most  dangerous  of  my  adventures. 
When  I  met  you  in  the  road,  I " 

"Stop!"  broke  in  Fred,  "not  another  word. 
Of  course  you  were  on  one  of  your  scouting  expe- 
ditions." 

A  curious  look  came  over  Calhoun's  face,  and 
then  he  said,  in  a  low  voice:  "You  are  right, 
Fred;  I  was  on  one  of  my  scouting  expeditions," 
and  he  shuddered  slightly. 

"Fred,"  suddenly  asked  Calhoun,  "is  there  any 
possible  way  for  me  to  keep  from  going  to  prison?" 

"Sometimes  prisoners  give  their  parole,"  an-, 
swered  Fred.      "I  will  see  what  can  be  done." 

The  next  morning  General  Thomas  sent  for 
Fred,  and  said  that  he  was  about  to  send  some  dis- 
patches to  General  Buell  at  Louisville.  "And,"  con- 
tinued he,  "owing  to  your  splendid  conduct  and  the 
value  of  the  services  you  have  rendered,  I  have  se- 
lected you  as  the  messenger.  Then,  in  all  proba- 
bility,   it   will   be  very  quiet   in   my  front   for  some 


A   FIGHT    WITH   GUERRILLAS.  243 

time,  and  General  Nelson  may  have  more  active 
work  for  you.  You  know,"  he  concluded  with  a 
smile,  "I  only  have  the  loan  of  you." 

Fred  heartily  thanked  the  general  for  the  honor 
bestowed,  and  then  said:  "General,  I  have  a  great 
boon  to  ask." 

"What  is  it?"  asked  the  general,  kindly.  "If 
possible  I  will  grant  it." 

"You  know  my  cousin  is  here  a  prisoner.  He 
is  more  like  a  brother  than  a  cousin  —  the  only 
brother  I  ever  knew.  The  boon  I  ask  is  that  you 
grant  him  a  parole." 

"Bring  him  here,"  said  the  general. 

Calhoun  was  sent  for,  and  soon  stood  in  the 
presence  of  the  general. 

"An  officer,  I  see,"  said  the  general,  as  he 
glanced  Calhoun  over, 

"Yes,  sir;  Lieutenant  Calhoun  Pennington  of 
Governor  Johnson's  staff,"  answered  Calhoun,  with 
dignity. 

"What  were  you  doing  up  here  if  you  are  one 
of  Johnson's  staff?"  asked  the  general. 

"I  was  here  on  special  duty." 

"Lieutenant,  your  cousin  has  asked  as  a  special 
favor  that  you  be  granted  a  parole.  He  says  that 
you  reside  in  Danville,  and  as  he  is  going  to  Louis- 
ville, he  would  like  to  have  you  accompany  him  as 
far  as  your  home." 

"General,"  answered  Calhoun,  "you  would 
place  me  under  a  thousand  obligations  if  you  would 
grant  me  a  parole;  but  only  on  one  condition,  and 


244  GENERAL  NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

that   is  that  you   effect  my  exchange   as  quickly  as 
possible." 

The  general  smiled.  "I  see,"  said  he,  "that 
you  and  Shackelford  are  alike;  never  satisfied  un- 
less you  are  in  the  thickest  of  the  fray.  I  think  I 
can  satisfy  you." 

The  parole  was  made  out,  and  Fred  and  Cal- 
houn made  preparations  to  start  for  Danville. 
Never  did  two  boys  enjoy  a  ride  more  than  they 
did. 

In  spite  of  bad  roads  and  bad  weather,  the  ex- 
uberance of  their  spirits  knew  no  bounds.  They 
were  playmates  again,  without  a  word  of  difference 
between  them.  As  far  as  they  were  concerned,  the 
clouds  of  war  had  lifted,  and  they  basked  in  the 
sunlight  of  peace. 

"I  say,  Fred,"  remarked  Calhoun,  "this  is 
something  like  it ;  seems  like  old  times.  Why  did 
this  war  have  to  come  and  separate  us?" 

Fred  sighed.  "The  war,  Calhoun,"  he  an- 
swered, "has  laid  a  heavier  hand  on  me  than  on 
you,  for  it  has  made  me  an  outcast  from  home." 

"Don't  worry,  Fred;  it  will  come  out  all  right," 
answered  Calhoun,  cheerily. 

On  the  morning  of  the  second  day  the  boys  met 
with  an  adventure  for  which  they  were  not  looking. 
Even  as  early  in  the  war  as  this,  those  roving  bands 
of  guerrillas  which  afterward  proved  such  a  curse  to 
the  border  States  began  to  appear.  It  was  some- 
what of  a  surprise  to  the  boys  when  four  men  sud- 
denly  rode   out  of   the  woods  by  the  side  of  the 


A   FIGHT    WITH  GUERRILLAS.  245 

road,  and  roughly  demanded  that  they  give  an  ac- 
count of  themselves. 

"By  whose  authority  do  you  stop  us?"  indig- 
nantly demanded  Fred. 

"By  my  authority, "  answered  the  leader,  with 
a  fearful  oath. 

"And  your  authority  I  refuse  to  acknowledge," 
was  the  hot  answer. 

"See  here,  young  man,  you  had  better  keep  a 
civil  tongue  in  your  head,"  and  as  the  leader  said 
this  he  significantly  tapped  the  butt  of  his  revolver. 

Calhoun  here  interposed.  "What  is  it  you 
wish?"  he  asked. 

"I  wish  to  know  who  you  are,  and  where  you 
are  going,  and  that quick." 

"That  is  easily  answered,"  replied  Calhoun. 
"As  you  see  by  my  uniform,  I  am  a  Confederate 
oflficer.  I  am  on  parole,  and  am  on  my  way  to  my 
home  in  Danville,  there  to  wait  until  I  am  regularly 
exchanged." 

"A  fine  story,"  said  the  leader.  "And  I  sup- 
pose your  companion  is  also  in  the  Confederate 
service." 

"Not  at  all,"  replied  Fred,  quietly.  "I  am  in 
the  service  of  the  United  States." 

"You  are,  are  you?"  sneered  the  man.  "I 
think  both  of  you  are  Lincolnites.  We  will  have 
to  search  you,  and  I  think  in  the  end  shoot  you 
both." 

"Here  is  my  parole,"  said  Calhoun,  his  face 
growing  red  with  anger. 


246  GENERAL   NELSON'S   SCOUT. 

The  man  took  it,  glanced  it  over,  and  then 
coolly  tore  it  in  two,  and  flung  it  down. 

"Any  one  can  carry  such  a  paper  as  that.  Now, 
climb  down  in  a  hurry.  We  want  them  horses, 
and  we  want  you.  Boys,  it  will  be  fun  to  try  our 
marksmanship  on  these  youngsters,  won't  it?" 
and  he  turned  to  his  companions  with  a  brutal 
laugh. 

But  the  guerrillas  made  a  great  mistake ;  they 
thought  they  were  only  dealing  with  two  boys,  and 
were  consequently  careless  and  off  their  guard. 

With  a  sharp,  quick  look  at  Calhoun  which 
meant  volumes,  Fred  quickly  drew  his  revolver. 
There  was  a  flash,  a  report,  and  the  leader  of  the 
guerrillas  dropped  from  his  horse.  With  a  startled 
oath,  the  others  drew  their  revolvers,  but  before 
they  could  raise  them  there  were  two  reports  so 
close  together  as  almost  to  sound  as  one,  and  two 
more  of  the  gang  rolled  from  their  horses.  The 
remaining  one  threw  up  his  hands  and  began  to 
beg  for  mercy. 

"You  miscreant  you,"  exclaimed  Calhoun,  cov- 
ering him  with  his  revolver.  "I  ought  to  send  a 
ball  through  your  cowardly  carcass,  to  be  even  with 
my  cousin  here;  for  he  got  two  of  you,  while  I 
only  got  one." 

"Oh,  mercy!  mercy!"  begged  the  trembling 
wretch.      "I  have  a  wife  and  children." 

"You  have;  then  so  much  the  worse  for  the 
wife  and  children." 

"I  am  not  fit  to  die,"  he  blubbered. 


Fred  drew  his  Revolver,  and  the  Guerrilla  dropped  from 
his  horse. 


A  FIGHT   WITH  GUERRILLAS.  247 

"That  is  plain  to  be  seen,"  answered  Calhoun. 
"Now  off  that  horse!" 

The  fellow  obeyed  with  alacrity. 

"Now  hand  me  your  weapons — butts  first,  re- 
member." 

The  pistols  were  handed  over. 

"Now  pick  up  that  parole  your  leader  tore  and 
threw  down,  and  hand  it  to  me." 

This  was  done. 

Calhoun  sat  eyeing  him  a  moment,  and  then 
continued:  "I  ought  to  shoot  you  without  mercy, 
but  I  believe  in  giving  a  dog  a  chance  for  his  life, 
and  so  I  will  give  you  a  chance.  You  mount  your 
horse,  and  when  I  say  'Go,'  you  go.  After  I  say 
'Go'  I  shall  count  five,  and  then  shoot.  If  I  miss 
you,  which  I  do  n't  think  I  shall,  I  shall  continue 
shooting  as  long  as  you  are  in  range ;  so  the  faster 
you  go,  the  better  for  you.      Now,  mount." 

The  man  looked  appealingly  at  Calhoun,  but 
seeing  no  mercy,  mounted  his  horse  as  quick  as  his 
trembhng  limbs  would  let  him.  His  face  was 
white  with  fear,  and  his  teeth  fairly  rattled  they 
chattered  so. 

Calhoun  reined  his  horse  around  so  he  was  by 
the  fellow's  side.     Then  he  shouted  "Go!" 

The  man  gave  a  yell  of  terror,  bent  low  over 
his  horse's  neck  and  was  off  like  a  shot.  Calhoun 
with  a  chuckle  fired  over  him,  and  the  fellow 
seemed  to  fairly  flatten  out.  Four  times  did  Cal- 
houn fire,  and  at  each  report  the  flying  horseman 
appeared  to  go  the  faster. 


248  GENERAL  NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

As  for  Fred,  he  was  convulsed  with  merriment, 
notwithstanding  the  grewsome  surroundings. 

"Leave  these  carrion  where  they  are,"  said  Cal- 
houn in  response  to  a  question  from  Fred  as  to 
what  disposition  they  should  make  of  the  dead. 
"That  live  companion  of  theirs  will  be  back  when 
we  are  gone." 

They  rode  along  in  silence  for  a  while,  and  then 
Calhoun  suddenly  said:  "Fred,  how  I  wish  I 
could  always  fight  by  your  side.  It  's  a  pity  we 
have  to  fight  on  different  sides." 

"Just  what  I  was  thinking  of,  Cal,"  answered 
Fred;  "but  we  have  the  satisfaction  of  knowing 
we  have  fought  one  battle  together." 

"And  won  it,  too,"  shouted  Calhoun. 

They  reached  Danville  in  due  time  and  without 
further  adventure.  To  say  that  Judge  Pennington 
was  surprised  to  see  them  riding  up  together  would 
be  to  express  it  mildly;  he  was  astounded.  Then 
he  had  his  arms  around  his  boy,  and  was  sobbing, 
"My  son!  my  son  !" 

"And  Fred,  too,"  said  the  judge,  at  last  turn- 
ing from  welcoming  his  son.  "I  am  truly  glad  to 
see  you,  my  boy.  But  how  in  the  world  did  you 
two  happen  to  come  together?" 

And  so  the  whole  story  had  to  be  told,  and  the 
judge  listened  and  wondered  and  mourned  over 
the  defeat  of  the  Confederates  at  Mill  Springs. 

"My  boy,"  said  the  judge,  with  tears  glisten- 
ing in  his  eyes,  "at  least  I  am  glad  to  know  that 
you  did  your  duty." 


A   FIGHT    WITH  GUERRILLAS.  249 

"Aye!  he  did  that,  uncle,"  exclaimed  Fred. 
"If  all  the  Confederates  had  been  like  Calhoun,  we 
might  not  have  won  the  victory." 

"Unless  all  the  Federals  had  been  like  you,"  re- 
sponded Calhoun  gallantly. 

The  judge  would  have  both  boys  tell  him  the 
full  particulars  of  their  adventures,  and  listened 
to  their  recital  with  all  the  pleasure  of  a  schoolboy. 
But  when  they  were  through,  he  shook  his  head 
sadly,  and  said:  ''Boys,  you  can't  keep  that  pace 
up.  You  will  both  be  killed.  But  I  am  proud  of 
you,  proud  of  you  both,  if  Fred  is  fighting  for  that 
horrible  Lincoln." 

It  was  a  happy  day  Fred  spent  at  his  uncle's. 
It  seemed  like  old  times.  If  bitterness  was  felt 
towards  him  it  was  not  shown. 

When  it  was  noised  about  that  both  Calhoun 
and  Fred  had  returned,  they  were  besieged  with 
callers.  The  story  of  the  battle  of  Mill  Springs 
had  to  be  told  again  and  again.  Colonel  Fry  was 
one  of  the  influential  citizens  of  the  city,  and  espe- 
cially were  they  eager  to  hear  the  particulars  of  his 
killing  General  Zollicoffer. 

Fred  concluded  to  ride  his  horse  to  Louisville, 
instead  of  riding  to  Nicholasville  or  Lebanon  and 
taking  the  cars  from  one  of  those  places. 

"I  must  have  Prince  wherever  I  go  after  this," 
he  said. 

"Hello!  my  boy,  is  that  you?"  asked  General 
Nelson,  as  Fred  rode  up  to  his  headquarters  after  a 
very  prosaic  journey  of  three  days. 


250  GENERAL   NELSON'S   SCOUT. 

"It  is  no  one  else,  General,"  laughed  Fred,  as 
he  dismounted.  "Here  I  am,  here  is  my  good 
horse,  Prince,  and  here  is  a  letter  to  you  from  Gen- 
eral Thomas." 

Nelson  took  the  letter,  read  it,  and  looking  up 
smiling,  said:  "I  see  you  still  keep  up  your  habit 
of  doing  something  unusual,  Thomas  speaks  in 
the  highest  terms  of  your  work.  Then  you  were  at 
Mill  Springs?" 

"Yes,  General." 

"Glorious  victory!  glorious  victory!  the  first 
real  victory  we  have  gained.  Did  you  bring  full 
dispatches  with  you?" 

"Yes,  General;  I  have  voluminous  dispatches  for 
General  Buell.  I  was  so  eager  to  see  you  I  stopped 
before  delivering  them." 

"Ah,  my  boy,  I  believe  you  do  think  something 
of  blufT  old  Nelson  after  all,  even  if  he  has  a  devil 
of  a  temper,"  and  the  general  kindly  patted  the 
boy  on  the  head. 

Fred's  eyes  filled  with  tears.  "You  know,  Gen- 
eral," he  said,  brokenly,  "that  you  took  me  in, 
when  my  father  cast  me  out." 

"For  the  good  of  the  country,  my  boy,  for  the 
good  of  the  country,"  said  the  general  brusquely. 
"But,  come,  Fred,  I  will  ride  over  to  General 
Buell's  headquarters  with  you.  I  would  like  to  see 
General  Thomas'  full  report  of  the  battle." 

They  found  General  Buell  in  the  highest  of  spir- 
its, and  Fred  was  given  a  warm  welcome.  He 
looked  over  General  Thomas'  report,  and  his  whole 


A   FIGHT    WITH  GUERRILLAS.  251 

face  beamed  with  satisfaction.  He  asked  Fred  a 
multitude  of  questions,  and  was  surprised  at  the 
knowledge  of  military  affairs  which  he  showed  in 
his  answers. 

"I  think,  General,"  said  General  Buell,  turning 
to  Nelson,  after  he  had  dismissed  Fred,  "that  you 
have  not  overestimated  the  abilities  of  your  pro- 
tege. In  a  private  note  General  Thomas  speaks  in 
the  highest  terms  of  him.  I  shall  do  what  you 
asked." 

"Thankyou,  General,"  said  Nelson.  "Somehow 
I  have  taken  wonderfully  to  the  boy." 

What   it  was   General   Buell  was  to  do  for  Fred, 
that  individual  was  in  ignorance. 

While  in  Louisville  many  of  Fred's  leisure  mo- 
ments were  spent  at  the  hospitable  home  of  the 
Vaughns.  Mabel's  betrothed  was  now  at  the  front, 
and  it  was  astonishing  how  much  note  paper  that 
young  lady  used  in  writing  to  him. 

"You  don't  write  that  often  to  your  brother," 
said  Fred,  smiling. 

"My  brother?"  asked  Mabel,  looking  up  in 
surprise. 

"Yes,  your  humble  servant;  didn't  you  adopt 
me  as  a  brother?" 

Mabel  burst  out  laughing.  "Oh!"  she  replied, 
"one  doesn't  have  to  write  so  often  to  a  brother. 
Lovers  are  like  babies;  they  have  to  be  petted. 
But  to  change  the  subject,  where  does  my  knight- 
errant  expect  to  go  for  his  next  adventure?" 


252  GENERAL   NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

"I  don't  know,"  answered  Fred.  "Things 
appear  to  be  rather  quiet  just  now." 

But  events  were  even  then  transpiring  that  were 
to  take  Fred  to  a  different  theater  of  action. 


CHAPTER    XVI. 

FORT    DONELSON. 

COMMODORE  FOOTE  and  General  U.  S.  Grant 
sat  conversing  in  the  headquarters  of  the  lat- 
ter at  Cairo,  Illinois.  The  general  was  puffing  a 
cigar,  and  answered  in  monosyllables  between 
puffs. 

"You  have  heard  nothing  yet,  have  you,  Gen- 
eral," the  commodore  was  asking,  "of  that  request 
we  united  in  sending  to  General  Halleck?" 

"Nothing,"  answered  Grant,  moodily. 

There  was  silence  for  some  time,  the  general 
apparently  in  deep  thought.  The  commodore 
broke  the  silence  by  asking: 

"You  went  to  see  him  personally  once  on  this 
matter,  did  you  not?" 

"He  ungraciously  gave  me  permission  to  visit 
St.  Louis  in  order  to  see  him,  after  I  had  begged 
for  the  privilege  at  least  half  a  dozen  times,"  Grant 
answered. 

"And  you  laid  the  matter  before  him  in  all  its 
bearings?" 

"I  tried  to." 

"What  did  he  say?" 

"Say!  he  struck  me." 
253 


254  GENERAL   NELSON'S   SCOUT. 

"Struck  you?"  asked  the  commodore,  starting 
in  surprise. 

Grant  smiled.  "I  mean,"  said  he,  "that  he 
struck  me  metaphorically.  I  do  n't  believe  he 
would  have  hurt  me  as  badly,  if  he  had  really  struck 
me.  I  was  never  so  cut  in  all  my  life.  I  came 
away  feeling  that  I  had  committed  an  unpardonable 
sin  from  a  military  standpoint." 

"Then  he  would  not  hear  to  the  proposition  at 
all?" 

"Hear  it!  He  would  not  listen  to  me.  I  came 
away  resolving  never  to  ask  another  favor  of  him. 
Yet  so  anxious  am  I  to  make  this  campaign  that,  as 
you  know,  I  swallowed  my  pride  and  united  with 
you  in  making  the  request  that  we  be  allowed  to 
make  the  movement." 

"It  is  strange,"  replied  the  commodore,  "that 
he  should  ignore  both  our  requests,  not  favoring  us 
even  with  a  reply.  Yet  it  seems  that  he  must  see 
that  Fort  Henry  should  be  reduced  at  once.  If  we 
delay,  both  the  Cumberland  and  the  Tennessee  will 
be  so  strongly  fortified  that  it  will  be  almost  impos- 
sible to  force  a  passage.  Everything  is  to  be 
gained  by  moving  at  once.  Everything  may  be 
lost  by  delay." 

"Even  a  civilian  ought  to  see  that,"  replied 
Grant,  as  he  slowly  blew  a  cloud  of  smoke  from  his 
mouth,  and  watched  it  as  it  lazily  curled  upward. 

"The  truth  of  it  is,"  Grant  continued  slowly,  as 
if  weighing  every  word,  "too  many  of  us  are  afraid 
that  another  general  may  win  more  honor  than  we. 


FORT  DONELSON.  255 

Then  there  are  altogether  too  many  separate  com- 
mands. Now,  here  are  Buell  and  myself;  each 
with  a  separate  command,  yet  both  working  for  the 
same  object.  I  should  either  be  subject  to  the 
command  of  Buell,  or  he  should  be  subject  to  my 
orders.  We  are  now  like  two  men  trying  to  lift  the 
same  burden,  and  instead  of  lifting  together,  one 
will  lift  and  then  the  other.  Such  a  system  can 
but  prolong  the  war  indefinitely." 

"General,"  said  the  commodore,  earnestly,  "I 
sincerely  wish  you  had  the  supreme  command  here 
in  the  West.  I  believe  we  would  see  different  re- 
sults, and  that  very  soon." 

Grant  blushed  like  a  schoolgirl,  fidgeted  in  his 
seat,  and  then  said:  "Commodore,  you  do  me 
altogether  too  much  honor.  But  this  I  will  say,  if 
I  had  supreme  command  I  should  not  sit  still  and 
see  the  Tennessee  and  Cumberland  rivers  fortified 
without  raising  a  hand  to  prevent  it.  Neither  do  I 
believe  in  letting  month  after  month  go  by  for  the 
purpose  of  drilling  and  organizing.  The  Govern- 
ment seems  to  forget  that  time  gives  the  enemy  the 
same  privilege.  What  is  wanted  is  hard  blows,  and 
these  blows  should  be  delivered  as  soon  as  possible. 
Sherman  was  right  when  he  asked  for  200,000  men 
to  march  to  the  Gulf,  yet  he  was  sneered  at  by  the 
War  Department,  hounded  by  every  paper  in  the 
land,  called  insane,  and  now  he  is  occupying  a  sub- 
ordinate position.  The  war  could  be  ended  in  a 
year.      No  one  now  can  tell  how  long  it  will  last." 

Just  then  a  telegram  was  placed  in  Grant's  hands. 


256  GENERAL   NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

He  read  it,  and  his  whole  face  lighted  up  with 
pleasure. 

"You  look  pleased,"  said  the  commodore. 
"The  telegram  must  bring  good  news." 

Without  a  word  Grant  placed  the  telegram  in 
the  hands  of  the  commodore.  It  was  an  order 
from  General  Halleck  to  move  up  the  Tennessee  as 
soon  as  possible  and  capture  Fort  Henry. 

"At  last,"  said  the  commodore,  his  face  show- 
ing as  much  pleasure  as  did  Grant's. 

"At  last,"  responded  Grant;  and  then,  quickly, 
"Commodore,  we  may  have  done  an  injustice  to 
General  Halleck.  There  may  be  good  reasons  we 
know  not  of  v/hy  this  order  should  not  have  been 
made  before.  Commodore,  be  ready  to  move  with 
your  fleet  to-morrow." 

"That  soon?"  asked  the  commodore. 

"That  soon,"  responded  Grant. 

"General,  I  shall  be  ready;  and  now  good-bye, 
for  both  of  us  have  much  before  us.  But  before  I 
go,  let  me  congratulate  you.  I  believe  that  success 
and  great  honor  await  you,"  and  with  these  words 
the  commodore  withdrew. 

The  next  day,  with  15,000  men.  General  Grant 
was  steaming  up  the  Tennessee. 

General  Buell  sat  in  his  headquarters  at  Louis- 
ville. General  Nelson,  accompanied  by  Fred,  had 
dropped  in  to  see  his  general,  and  at  the  same  time 
to  give  vent  to  some  of  his  pent-up  feelings. 

"It  's  a  shame,  a  shame!"  he  fumed,  for  us  to 
sit  here  and  let  the   Rebels  fortify  Bowling  Green 


FORT  DONELSON.  257 

and  Dover  and  Columbus,  and  build  forts  to  block- 
ade the  Tennessee,  and  we  not  raise  a  finger  to 
prevent  it." 

Buell  smiled  at  his  irate  general,  and  asked : 
"And  what  would  you  do,  Nelson?" 

"Do!"  roared  Nelson,  "do!  I  would  strike,  and 
strike  hard.  I  would  give  them  precious  little  time 
to  build  forts. " 

Before  General  Buell  could  answer,  an  orderly 
entered  with  a  telegram.  He  read  it,  and  turning 
to  Nelson,  said: 

"Well,  General,  you  can  cease  your  fuming. 
This  telegram  is  from  General  Halleck.  He  tells 
me  he  has  ordered  General  Grant  up  the  Tennessee 
to  reduce  Fort  Henry,  and  he  wants  me  to  co-oper- 
ate as  much  as  possible  in  the  movement." 

Nelson  was  on  his  feet  in  an  instant. 

"General,"  he  exclaimed,  "I  have  a  favor,  a 
great  favor  to  ask  of  you." 

Buell  smilingly  answered:  "I  think  I  know 
what  it  is  without  your  asking.  You  want  me  to 
send  your  division." 

Nelson  bowed. 

"I  do  not  see  how  I  can  spare  so  many  men; 
you  know  we  have  Johnston  at  Bowling  Green  to 
look  after." 

"But  General,"  answered  Nelson,  "the  Tennes- 
see and  Cumberland  must  be  defended.  In  all 
probability  the  most  of  Johnston's  army  will  be 
transferred  there." 

"In  that  case.  General,"  answered  Buell,  "I  will 


258  GENERAL  NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

remember  you.  Your  division  shall  be  the  first 
one  sent." 

"Thank  you,  General,  thank  you,"  replied 
Nelson.      "I  only  wish  I  knew  I  was  going." 

"As  it  is  now,"  continued  Buell,  "I  shall  order 
General  Crittenden  to  send  Cruft's  brigade.  That 
brigade  is  near  the  mouth  of  Green  river.  There  is 
no  force  of  the  enemy,  in  any  number,  before 
them,  and  the  brigade  can  well  be  spared.  I  shall 
send  no  more  men  unless  it  is  absolutely  necessary. 
I  shall  at  once  dispatch  an  officer  to  General  Crit- 
tenden with  necessary  orders." 

"General,"  now  spoke  up  Fred,  "like  General 
Nelson,  I  have  a  request  to  make,  and  by  your 
kindness  I  hope  to  meet  with  better  success." 

"Ah!"  said  Buell,  "you  wish  to  carry  the 
orders.  If  Nelson  has  no  objection,  I  think  I  can 
grant  that  request.  The  general  has  told  me  some- 
thing of  your  history,  Mr.  Shackelford.  General 
Thomas  also  speaks  in  the  highest  terms  of  you." 

"You  can  go  if  you  wish,  Fred,"  answered 
Nelson.      "I   only  hope  I  shall  soon  be  with  you." 

So  it  was  settled,  and  before  night  Fred  and  his 
good  horse  Prince  were  on  their  way  down  the 
Ohio.  Fred  not  only  carried  dispatches  to  General 
Crittenden,  but  he  had  personal  letters  both  from 
General  Buell  and  General  Nelson  to  General  Cruft 
commending  him  to  the  latter  officer. 

Disembarking  at  Owensboro,  Fred  made  a  swift 
ride  to  Calhoun,  the  headquarters  of  General  Crit- 
tenden.     He  delivered  his  dispatches   to  the  gen- 


FORT  DONELSON.  259 

eral,  and  at  once  sought  the  headquarters  of  Gen- 
eral Cruft.  The  general  read  Fred's  letters,  and 
then  said:  "You  are  very  welcome,  Mr.  Shackel- 
ford ;  you  may  consider  yourself  as  one  of  my  staff 
until  such  time  as  General  Nelson  may  join  us." 

Soon  orders  came  to  General  Cruft  to  at  once 
prepare  to  join  Grant. 

It  was  nearly  noon  on  February  the  14th  when 
the  fleet  on  which  General  Cruft' s  brigade  had  em- 
barked arrived  at  Fort  Donelson.  The  place  had 
already  been  invested  two  days,  and  some  severe 
fighting  had  taken  place.  The  weather,  from 
being  warm  and  rainy,  had  suddenly  turned  cold  on 
the  afternoon  of  the  13th,  and  Fred  shivered  as  he 
emerged  from  the  comfortable  cabin  of  the  steamboat 
and  stepped  out  on  the  cold,  desolate  bank  of  the 
river.  The  ground  was  covered  with  ice  and  snow, 
and  the  scene  was  dreary  in  the  extreme. 

Now  and  then  the  heavy  reverberation  of  a  can- 
non came  rolling  down  the  river,  and  echoed  and 
re-echoed  among  the  hills.  A  fleet  of  gunboats  lay 
anchored  in  the  river,  the  mouths  of  their  great 
guns  looking  out  over  the  dark  sullen  water  as 
though  watching  for  their  prey.  General  Cruft's 
brigade  was  assigned  to  the  division  of  General 
Lew  Wallace,  which  occupied  the  center  of  the 
Federal  army.  Back  in  the  rear  little  groups  of 
soldiers  stood  shivering  around  small  fires,  trying  to 
warm  their  benumbed  limbs,  or  to  cook  their  scanty 
rations. 

The  condition  of  the  soldiers  was  pitiable  in  the 


26o  GENERAL   NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

extreme.  There  were  no  tents;  but  few  had  over- 
coats, and  many  on  the  hard,  muddy  march  from 
Fort  Henry  had  even  thrown  away  their  blankets. 
In  the  front  lines  no  fires  could  be  lighted,  and 
there  the  soldiers  stood,  exposed  to  the  furious 
storm  of  sleet  and  snow,  hungry,  benumbed,  hardly 
knowing  whether  they  were  dead  or  alive.  Such 
were  the  heroes  who  stood  for  three  days  before 
Donelson, 

As  Fred  looked  on  all  this  suffering,  he  won- 
dered at  the  fortitude  with  which  it  was  endured. 
There  were  few  complaints  from  the  soldiers;  they 
were  even  cheerful  and  eager  to  meet  the  foe. 

About  three  o'clock  the  gunboats  came  steaming 
up  the  river  and  engaged  the  Confederate  batteries. 
It  was  a  most  sublime  spectacle,  and  held  Fred 
spellbound.  The  very  heavens  seemed  splitting, 
and  the  earth  shook  and  trembled  from  the  heavy 
concussions.  Nearer  and  nearer  the  gunboats  came 
to  the  batteries  until  it  seemed  to  Fred  the  great 
guns  were  vomiting  fire  and  smoke  into  each  other's 
throats. 

During  the  fight  Fred  noticed  a  small,  thick- 
set man  sitting  on  his  horse  intently  watching  the 
fight.  His  countenance  was  perfectly  impassive, 
and  one  could  not  tell  by  watching  him  whether 
he  sympathized  with  friend  or  foe. 

For  two  hours  the  conflict  raged.  The  boilers 
of  the  Essex  had  been  blown  up,  the  other  boats 
were  bruised  and  battered  and  torn  by  the  great 
shots  which  had   struck  them,  and  were  helplessly 


FORT  DONELSON.  261 

drifting  down  the  stream.  The  gunboats  had  been 
defeated.  From  the  Federal  side  there  went  up 
a  great  groan  of  disappointment,  while  from  the 
Confederate  lines  there  arose  the  wild  cheers  of  vic- 
tory. 

The  silent  man  on  horseback  turned  and  rode 
away.  Not  a  sign,  not  a  word  that  he  was  disap- 
pointed, 

"Who  is  that  man?"  asked  Fred  of  an  officer 
standing  by  him. 

"That,  young  man,"  was  the  answer,  "is  Gen- 
eral Grant.  He  must  be  awfully  cut  up,  but  he 
does  not  show  it." 

Fred  turned  and  looked  after  Grant  as  he  rode 
slowly  away.  "There,"  thought  Fred,  "is  a  man 
who  is  going  to  make  his  mark  in  this  war.  In 
some  of  his  actions  he  reminds  me  of  General 
Thomas.      Nothing  seems  to  excite  him." 

Night  and  darkness  came.  On  the  frozen 
ground,  without  tents  or  fire,  the  soldiers  once  more 
made  their  beds.  The  wind  sighed  and  moaned 
through  the  bare  branches,  as  if  weeping  at  the 
suffering  it  caused.  Many,  to  keep  from  freezing, 
never  lay  down,  but  kept  up  a  weary  march,  so 
that  the  blood  might  circulate.  The  long  hours 
dragged  slowly  along. 

Over  in  the  Confederate  lines  all  was  activity. 
A  council  of  war  was  held,  and  it  was  resolved  that 
in  the  morning  they  would  cut  their  way  through 
the  lines  of  steel  which  Grant  had  thrown  around 
them.     All  preparations  were   made,    every   order 


262  GENERAL  NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

given,  and  then  they  waited  for  the  light  of  morn- 
ing— the  last  morning  that  hundreds  would  ever  see. 

It  was  hardly  light  when  Fred  was  awakened  by 
the  fitful  sound  of  musketry  over  on  the  right.  In 
front  of  Wallace's  division  only  the  report  of  a  rifle 
of  a  picket  was  heard  now  and  then.  Hurriedly 
eating  a  little  breakfast,  he  mounted  his  horse  and 
reported  to  General  Cruft  for  duty.  The  men 
were  all  standing  at  arms,  but  there  was  nothing  for 
them  to  do.  But  over  on  the  right  the  rattle  of 
musketry  grew  more  intense,  the  roll  of  heavy  vol- 
leys began  to  be  heard,  and  then  the  deep-voiced  can- 
non joined  in  the  chorus.  Louder  and  louder  grew 
the  din  of  the  conflict.  The  smoke  of  battle  began  to 
ascend  above  the  treetops  like  smoke  from  a  burn- 
ing coal-pit.  The  sound  of  battle  came  nearer,  the 
roll  of  musketry  was  incessant,  the  thunder  of  can- 
non never  ceased. 

An  officer  wild  with  excitement  came  spurring 
his  foaming  horse  up  to  General  Wallace. 

"General  McClernand  wants  help,"  he  gasped. 
"The  whole  Rebel  army  has  attacked  his  division." 

"I  have  orders  from  General  Grant  to  hold  this 
position  at  all  hazards,"  replied  Wallace.  "I  must 
have  orders  from  him." 

To  Grant's  headquarters  the  officer  rides  in  fran- 
tic haste.  The  general  was  away;  he  had  started 
at  five  o'clock  to  see  Commodore  Foote,  who  had 
been  wounded  in  the  battle  of  the  night  before,  and 
was  on  board  of  one  of  his  gunboats,  and  the  boats 
lay  some  five  or  six  miles  below. 


FORT  DONELSON.  263 

Would  not  some  one  of  his  staff  give  orders  to 
send  reinforcements  to  McClernand.  No;  none 
would  take  the  responsibility.  The  ofificer  groaned, 
and  rode  back  to  McClernand  with  the  heavy  tid- 
ings. 

Minutes  go  by,  the  thunder  of  battle  is  terrific. 
The  Federals  are  being  driven.  The  exultant 
cheering  of  the  advancing  foe  is  heard  above  the 
roar  of  conflict. 

Another  officer,  with  his  horse  bleeding  from 
wounds,  his  hat  gone,  and  tears  streaming  down  his 
face,  rides  to  General  Wallace.  "For  God's  sake, 
help!"  he  gasps,  "or  everything  is  lost;  we  are 
flanked,  we  cannot  hold  out  longer." 

Then  General  Wallace  said:  "I  will  take  the 
responsibility;  help  you  shall  have."  And  with  his 
face  lighted  up  with  joy  the  officer  dashed  back  to 
tell  McClernand  that  help  was  coming. 

An  order  comes  to  General  Cruft  to  at  once 
march  his  brigade  to  the  scene  of  action.  No 
sooner  is  the  command  given  than  the  brigade  is  on 
the  way.  Soon  shot  and  shell  are  crashing  over- 
head, and  singing  bullets  begin  to  cut  the  twigs  of 
the  bushes  around.  Now  and  then  a  soldier  fal- 
ters and  goes  down.  A  smooth-faced,  florid  man 
rides  up  to  General  Cruft.  "I  am  Colonel 
Oglesby, ' '  he  says ;  * '  my  brigade  is  being  flanked  on 
the  right.  Let  me  lead  you  in  position ;  my  men 
are  nearly  out  of  ammunition."  And  then  as 
calmly  as  if  on  parade  Colonel  Dick  Oglesby  leads 
Cruft' s  brigade  to  the  relief  of  his  men.     Soon  the 


264  GENERAL  NELSON'S   SCOUT. 

brigade  is  in  the  midst  of  the  conflict.  Here  and 
there  Fred  rides  carrying  orders.  The  excitement 
of  battle  is  on  him,  and  he  feels  no  fear. 

Oglesby's  brigade  is  out  of  ammunition.  Sul- 
lenly his  men  fall  back,  leaving  over  800  of  their 
number  dead  and  wounded  on  the  field,  but  his  left 
regiment  refuses  to  go.  The  colonel,  a  large, 
dark  man,  with  hair  as  black  as  midnight,  eyes  like 
flaming  stars,  rages  up  and  down  the  line  like  a 
lion.'  Fred  gazes  on  him  in  admiration.  He  is 
typical  of  war  incarnate. 

"Who  is  he?"  Fred  asks  of  a  wounded  soldier 
hobbling  back. 

"Colonel  John  A.  Logan,"  is  the  answer. 

At  last  his  men  are  out  of  ammunition,  and 
Logan,  bleeding  from  two  wounds,  is  obliged  to 
lead  his  regiment  back.  Another  regiment  takes 
its  place,  and  after  a  dreadful  conflict,  is  compelled 
to  fall  back,  leaving  over  300  of  their  number  dead 
and  wounded. 

Cruft's  brigade  was  now  on  the  extreme  right, 
cut  off  from  the  rest  of  the  army.  The  enemy 
pressed  upon  them ;  a  withering  volley  sent  them 
reeling  back.  "Charge!"  v/as  the  order,  Fred 
spurred  forward,  and  seizing  the  colors  of  a  Ken- 
tucky regiment,  shouted:  "Now,  boys,  for  the 
honor  of  old  Kentucky." 

The  enemy  flew  before  them  like  frightened 
sheep.  But  on  either  flank  the  enemy  pressed, 
and  the  brigade,  combating  every  foot,  was  forced 
back. 


FORT  DONELSON.  265 

The  enemy  had  gained  the  desired  end;  Mc- 
Clernand's  division  was  out  of  the  way,  the  road  to 
retreat  was  open.  Why  was  it  not  taken  advantage 
of?  Because  of  the  imbecility  of  Generals  Floyd 
and  Pillow. 

Broken,  and  with  a  third  of  its  number  dead 
and  wounded,  McClernand's  division  is  driven  back 
on  Lew  Wallace.  Officers,  stunned  v/ith  the  dis- 
aster, come  wildly  galloping  through  Wallace's 
lines,  shouting,  "All  is  lost!   all  is  lost!" 

Wallace  changes  front  to  meet  the  exultant,  ad- 
vancing foe.  Firm  as  adamant  his  lines  stand.  In 
the  faces  of  the  charging  Confederates  his  men 
pour  their  crushing  volleys.  The  enemy  waver, 
reel,  then  go  staggering,  bleeding  back. 

Where  is  Grant  all  of  this  time?  In  conference 
with  Commodore  Foote  on  board  of  a  gunboat  six 
miles  down  the  river.  He  is  too  far  away  to  hear 
the  roll  of  musketry,  and  the  thunder  of  artillery  he 
thinks  but  cannonading  between  the  two  lines.  It 
is  past  noon  when  the  conference  is  ended  and  he 
is  rowed  ashore.  There  stands  a  staff  officer  with 
bloodless  face  and  shaking  limbs.  In  a  few  words 
the  story  of  the  disaster  is  told.  Without  a  word 
Grant  listens,  and  then  mounts  his  horse.  The  iron 
shoes  of  his  steed  strike  fire  on  the  frozen  ground  as 
he  gallops  back.  He  arrives  just  as  the  foe  is  re- 
pulsed by  Wallace's  division.  His  eye  sweeps  the 
field. 

"Why,  boys,"  he  cries,  "they  are  trying  to  get 
away;   we  must  n't  let  them." 


266  GENERAL    NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

The  words  act  like  magic  as  they  are  borne  along 
the  lines.  Cartridge  boxes  are  replenished,  and  the 
soldiers,  who  a  few  moments  before  were  in  retreat, 
are  now  eager  to  advance.  The  lines  are  re-formed 
and  the  army  sweeps  forward.  This  time  it  is  the 
Confederates  who  are  pressed  back,  and  soon  the 
open  road  is  closed.  The  chance  to  escape  is  for- 
ever gone;  Fort  Donelson  is  doomed. 

Darkness  once  more  came,  and  with  it  another 
night  of  cold  and  suffering.  The  early  morning 
light  showed  a  white  flag  floating  from  the  ramparts 
of  the  fort.  Donelson  had  surrendered.  Cold  and 
hunger  were  forgotten,  as  the  soldiers  in  their  joy 
embraced  each  other,  and  their  shouts  of  victory 
rose  and  fell  like  the  swells  of  the  ocean.  The  first 
great  victory  of  the  war  had  been  won. 

Fifteen  thousand  Confederates  were  prisoners. 


'Why,  Boys,  they  are  trying  to  get  away  ;  we  mustn't  let  them. 


« 


CHAPTER   XVIL 

AFTER  THE    BATTLE. 

THE  sun  arose  once  more  on  Donelson.  The 
storm  of  the  elements,  as  well  as  of  battle, 
had  passed  away.  But  the  horrors  of  war  re- 
mained. On  the  frozen  ground  lay  the  dead  with 
white,  pinched  faces.  Scores  of  the  wounded  had 
perished  from  cold  and  exposure.  Some  who  still 
breathed  were  frozen  to  the  ground  in  their  own 
blood.  The  cold  had  been  more  cruel  than  the 
bullets. 

Fred  rode  over  the  battlefield  seeking  the  body 
of  an  officer  in  one  of  the  Kentucky  regiments 
whom  he  had  seen  fall.  The  officer  was  a  friend  of 
his  father's.  Where  the  last  fierce  struggle  took 
place  before  the  brigade  fell  back,  Fred  found  him. 
He  was  half-reclining  against  a  tree,  and  from  its 
branches  the  snow  had  sifted  down,  as  though  try- 
ing to  blot  out  the  crimson  with  a  mantle  of  white. 
The  officer  had  not  died  at  once,  for  the  frozen 
hand  held  a  photograph  in  its  iron  grasp — that  of  a 
happy,  sweet-faced  mother  holding  a  cooing  babe. 
It  was  the  photograph  of  his  wife  and  child. 

With  a  sob  Fred  turned  away,  sick — sick  at 
heart.     He  was  choking  with  the  horror  that  he  saw. 

267 


268  GENERAL   NELSON'S   SCOUT. 

Fred's  gallant  act  in  leading  the  charge  had  been 
noticed  by  General  Cruft,  and  at  the  first  oppor- 
tunity he  highly  complimented  his  youthful  aid. 
But  to  Fred  it  now  all  seemed  like  a  dream — some- 
thing not  real.  Could  it  be  that  only  yesterday  he 
was  in  that  hell  of  fire,  eager  only  to  kill  and  maim ! 
He  sickened  at  the  thought. 

In  the  afternoon  he  went  to  see  the  prisoners 
mustered.  As  they  marched  along  with  downcast 
eyes,  Fred  saw  a  well-known  form  among  the 
ofificers  which  sent  every  particle  of  blood  from 
his  face.  Quickly  recovering  himself,  he  sprang 
forward,  exclaiming,  "Uncle  Charles!" 

Major  Shackelford  looked  up  in  surprise,  a  frown 
came  over  his  face,  but  he  held  out  his  hand,  and 
said,  "Fred,  you  here?" 

"Is — is  father — a — prisoner — or — killed?"  Fred's 
voice  trembled,  then  broke;  he  could  not  articulate 
another  word. 

"Your  father  is  not  here,  thank  God!"  replied 
his  uncle."  "He  is  with  Johnston  at  Bowling 
Green." 

"Thank  God!"  echoed  Fred. 

He  now  noticed  for  the  first  time  a  young  lieu- 
tenant, his  neat  uniform  soiled  and  torn,  and  his 
eyes  red  with  watching. 

"Why,  Cousin  George,  you  here,  too?"  ex- 
claimed Fred,  holding  out  his  hand. 

The  young  lieutenant  drew  back  haughtily. 

"I  refuse,"  said  he,  "to  take  the  hand  of  a 
traitor  to  his  State  and  kindred." 


AFTER    THE  BATTLE.  269 

The  hot  blood  flew  to  Fred's  face,  and  he  was 
on  the  point  of  making  an  angry  retort,  but  con- 
trolling himself,he  replied,  "As  you  please,"  and 
turned  away. 

"Uncle  Charles,"  he  said,  "I  know  you  will  not 
be  so  foolish.  I  am  sorry — so  sorry — to  see  you 
here.      Can  I  do  anything  for  you?" 

The  major  groaned.  "No,  Fred,  no.  I  am  heart- 
broken.    Oh!  the  disgrace  of  it!  the  disgrace  of  it!" 

"Of  what,  uncle?" 

"Of  the  surrender," 

"You  surely  fought  like  heroes,"  gently  replied 
Fred.  "There  is  no  disgrace  in  brave  men  bowing 
to  the  inevitable." 

"And  that  fight  was  the  worst  of  it,"  bitterly 
replied  the  major.  "Every  noble  life  lost  was  a 
useless  sacrifice,  sacrificed  to  the  imbecility  of  our 
generals.  But,  Fred,  this  surrender  means  more; 
it  means  the  giving  up  of  Nashville.  Oh,  my 
family!  my  family!  What  will  become  of  them? 
They  will  be  wild  with  fear;  they  will  flee  penniless 
— flee  I  know  not  where." 

Fred  remained  in  deep  thought  for  a  moment, 
then  looking  up,  said:  "Uncle,  do  you  really  fear 
for  Aunt  Jennie  and  the  children?" 

"I  do.  Nashville  will  be  wild — terror-stricken; 
there  is  no  knowing  what  will  happen." 

"Uncle,  if  you  wish,  I  will  go  to  Nashville. 
Even  if  the  city  is  taken,  there  will  be  no  danger. 
Your  property  will  be  safe  if  not  deserted.  As  you 
say,  the  greatest  danger  is  in  flight." 


270  GENERAL   NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

"Can  you  reach  Nashville,  Fred?" 

"I  think  I  can." 

"Then  go,  and  God  bless  you.  I  will  write  a 
letter  to  Jennie." 

"Also  write  a  statement  for  me,"  said  Fred, 
"saying  I  am  your  nephew,  and  that  I  am  trying 
to  reach  your  family  in  Nashville.  It  may  be  use- 
ful to  me." 

A  little  later  the  letters  were  placed  in  Fred's 
hands,  and  bidding  his  uncle  a  most  affectionate 
farewell,  he  went  to  make  preparations  for  his  jour- 
ney. The  next  morning,  provided  with  an  order 
from  General  Grant  giving  him  permission  to  pass 
outside  of  the  lines,  he  started.  When  he  was  well 
beyond  the  pickets,  he  tore  up  his  pass,  thus  de- 
stroying any  evidence  that  he  was  ever  connected 
with  the  Federal  army. 

He  had  not  ridden  many  miles  before  he  began 
to  overtake  straggling  Confederate  soldiers  who  had 
escaped  from  Donelson.  Along  in  the  afternoon 
he  suddenly  came  upon  three  cavalrymen.  The 
horse  of  one  had  given  out,  and  the  three  were 
debating  what  was  best  to  do.  Seeing  Fred,  and 
noticing  that  he  was  well  mounted,  one  of  them 
said:  "There  comes  a  boy,  a  civilian,  on  a  fine 
hoss.  Why  not  confiscate  him  for  the  good  of  the 
cause?" 

"Just  the  thing!"  exclaimed  the  other  two. 

Without  warning,  Fred  found  himself  covered 
by  three  revolvers. 

"Come,  young  man,"  said   one  of  the  soldiers. 


AFTER    THE  BATTLE.  27 1 

threateningly,  "off  of  that  hoss,  and  be  quick  about 
it,  too." 

"What  does  this  mean?"  said  Fred,  trying  to 
keep  cool. 

"It  means  the  Confederate  States  of  America 
have  use  for  that  hoss;  so  climb  down  quick,  and 
none  of  your  lip." 

"But,  gentlemen " 

"No  buts  about  it,"  broke  in  the  soldier 
fiercely.  "Do  you  mean  to  say  you  refuse  to  con- 
tribute a  hoss  to  the  cause?  You  ought  to  be  in 
the  ranks  yourself  instead  of  whining  about  a  hoss. 
You  must  be  a  Lincolnite  or  a  coward.  Get  off, 
or  I  will  let  daylight  through  your  carcass." 

There  was  no  use  parleying;  so  without  saying 
a  word  Fred  dismounted.  The  soldier  in  great  glee, 
congratulating  himself  on  his  good  fortune, 
mounted.  Prince  laid  back  his  ears,  and  a  wicked 
gleam  came  into  his  eyes,  but  as  Fred  said  nothing, 
the  horse  made  no  objection. 

"Say,  boy,"  exclaimed  the  soldier,  "you  can 
have  my  hoss  there;  it's  a  fair  trade,  you  see," 
and  with  a  laugh  and  a  jeer  they  rode  away. 

Fred  let  them  go  a  short  distance,  when  he 
suddenly  gave  a  peculiar  short  whistle.  Prince 
gave  a  great  bound,  then  wheeled  as  quick  as  light- 
ning. His  rider  was  thrown  with  prodigious  force, 
and  lay  senseless  in  the  road.  At  full  speed  the 
horse  ran  back  and  stopped  by  the  side  of  his 
owner,  quivering  with  excitement.  Fred  vaulted 
into  the  saddle,  and  with  a  yell  of  defiance  dashed 


272  GENERAL   NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

back  in  the  direction  he  had  come.  Coming  to  a 
cross  road,  he  followed  it  until  he  came  to  a  road 
leading  in  the  direction  he  wished  to  go. 

"Hi!  Prince,  old  fellow,  that  was  a  trick  those 
fellows  weren't  on  to,"  said  Fred,  patting  the 
glossy  neck  of  his  horse.  "You  did  it  capitally,  my 
boy,  capitally." 

Prince    turned   his   head    and    whinnied    as  if  he 
knew  all  about  it. 

Towards  evening  Fred  fell  in  with  some  of  For- 
est's troopers  who  had  escaped  from  Donelson  and 
were  making  their  way  to  Nashville. 

The  officer  in  command  asked  Fred  who  he  was 
and  where  he  was  going,  and  was  frankly  told. 

"I  know  Major  Shackelford  well,"  replied  the 
of^cer,  "an  honorable  man  and  a  gallant  soldier.  I 
shall  be  happy  to  have  you  accompany  us  to  Nash- 
ville." 

Fred  preferred  to  make  more  haste,  but  remem- 
bering his  adventure,  resolved  to  run  no  more  risk, 
and  so  gladly  accepted  the  invitation. 

The  news  of  the  surrender  of  Fort  Donelson  had 
become  known,  and  the  whole  country  was  wild 
with  terror.  Consternation  was  depicted  in  every 
countenance.  For  the  first  time  the  people  of  the 
South  began  to  realize  that  after  all  they  might  be 
defeated. 

When  Fred  entered  Nashville  the  scene  was  in- 
describable. The  whole  city  was  terror-stricken. 
Women  walked  the  streets  wringing  their  hands  in 
the  agony   of   despair.      Every  avenue  was  blocked 


AFTER    THE  BATTLE.  273 

with  vehicles  of  all  kinds,  loaded  with  valuables  and 
household  goods.  The  inhabitants  were  fleeing 
from  what  they  considered  destruction.  Sobs  and 
groans  and  piteous  wails  were  heard  on  every  side. 
Could  this  be  the  same  people  he  had  seen  a  few 
months  before?  Through  the  wild  confusion,  Fred 
rode  until  he  reached  the  door  of  his  uncle's  house. 
He  found  the  family  preparing  for  hasty  flight. 

"Aunt  Jennie,  how  are  you?"  exclaimed  he, 
holding  out  his  hand. 

Mrs.  Shackelford  gave  a  shriek,  and  then  ex- 
claimed: "Fred  Shackelford!  where  did  you 
come  from?" 

"From  Donelson  and  Uncle  Charles,"  replied 
Fred. 

Mrs.  Shackelford  turned  as  white  as  death,  tot- 
tered, and  would  have  fallen  if  Fred  had  not 
caught  her. 

"Is — is — Charles  killed?"  she  gasped. 

"Calm  yourself,  Aunt  Jennie;  both  Uncle 
Charles  and  George  are  well." 

"Why — why  did  you  come  then?  What  has 
happened?" 

"They  are  prisoners." 

"Prisoners!"  wailed  Mrs.  Shackelford,  and  tears 
came  to  the  relief  of  her  pent-up  feelings.  "Oh! 
they  will  die  in  some  Northern  prison,  and  I  shall 
never  see  them  again." 

"Cheer  up.  Aunt  Jennie.  In  all  probability 
they  will  be  exchanged  in  a  few  weeks  or  released 
on  parole.      Here   is  a  letter  from   Uncle  Charles. 


274  GENERAL  NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

It  will  do  you  good  to  read  it, "  and  he  handed  her 
the  letter  her  husband  had  written. 

When  she  had  read  it,  she  became  calmer,  and 
said,  "He  wishes  me  to  stay  here." 

"By  all  means,  Aunt  Jennie,"  replied  Fred. 
"Stop  these  preparations  for  flight;  be  discreet, 
and  you  will  be  as  safe  in  Nashville  with  the  North- 
ern soldiers  here  as  if  they  were  a  thousand  miles 
away." 

Just  then  Kate  came  in,  her  vivacity  all  gone, 
and  her  eyes  red  with  weeping. 

"Why  Fred,  you  here?"  she  asked  in  surprise 
and  with  some  hauteur.  "I  thought  you  had 
turned  Yankee.  When  I  heard  of  it  I  vowed  I 
would  never  speak  to  you  again." 

"But  you  see  you  have,"  replied  Fred,  smiling. 

"Are  you  sure  the  Yankees  are  coming?"  she 
asked,  ignoring  Fred's  remark. 

"Perfectly  sure." 

"Oh!  oh!  oh!  what  will  we  do?" 

"Drive  them  back  with  broomsticks,"  replied 
Fred,  mischievously. 

"What!"  asked  Kate,  opening  her  eyes  in  as- 
tonishment. 

"My  pretty  cousin,  did  n't  you  tell  me  when  I 
was  here  that  if  the  Yankees  ever  dare  come  near 
Nashville  the  women  would  turn  out  and  beat  them 
back  with  broomsticks?" 

"You  horrid  thing!"  exclaimed  Kate.  "I  will 
never  speak  to  you  again;  so  there!"  and  she 
turned  her  back  on  him. 


AFTER    THE  BATTLE.  275 

But  when  Kate  learned  that  Fred  had  just  come 
from  her  father  and  brother  she  was  eager  enough 
to  talk,  and  Fred  had  to  tell  the  story  of  Donelson 
over  and  over  again.  As  they  were  talking,  the 
clatter  of  horse's  hoofs  attracted  the  attention  of 
the  family,  and  Fred,  glancing  out  of  the  window, 
saw  his  father  dismounting  before  the  door.  The 
sight  completely  unnerved  him.  He  arose  trem- 
bling in  every  limb,  and  gasped : 

"Aunt  Jennie,  my  father!  I  cannot  meet  him; 
he  has  forbidden  it,"  and  he  passed  into  another 
room. 

Colonel  Shackelford  entered,  and  was  warmly 
greeted  by  his  sister-in-law.  He  had  but  a  moment 
to  stay,  as  his  regiment  was  on  the  retreat,  and  the 
Federals  were  reported  in  close  pursuit. 

"I  see,"  said  he,  "you  have  prepared  for  flight. 
I  trust  that  you  will  accompany  my  command  until 
you  reach  a  place  of  safety." 

"We  were  going,"  replied  Mrs.  Shackelford, 
"but  have  changed  our  minds.  1  have  just  re- 
ceived a  letter  from  Charles,  who  is  a  prisoner,  and 
he  has  advised  me  to  stay." 

"Charles  a  prisoner,  and  a  letter  from  him! 
How  did  you  receive  it?"  Colonel  Shackelford  asked 
in  surprise. 

Mrs.  Shackelford  hesitated  a  moment,  and  then 
answered,  "Fred  brought  it." 

The  colonel  started  violently,  and  then  asked  in 
a  broken  voice,  "Fred  here?" 

"Yes." 


276  GENERAL   NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

"How  did  he  come?     Tell  me  all  about  it." 

So  Mrs.  Shackelford  had  to  tell  all  she  knew. 

"I  will  see  him,"  said  the  colonel. 

Fred  was  told  his  father  wished  to  see  him ; 
his  heart  gave  a  great  bound,  as  he  rushed  into 
the  room  with  the  cry  of  "Father!"  on  his  lips,  and 
was  about  to  spring  into  his  arms  when  the  stern 
command  of  "Stop  I"  rooted  him,  as  it  were,  to 
the  floor. 

"Before  you  call  me  father,"  said  the  colonel, 
sternly,  "I  want  to  know  whether  you  have  re- 
pented of  your  folly,  or  whether  you  are  here  as  a 
spy.  If  I  thought  the  latter,  as  sure  as  there  is  a 
God  in  heaven  I  would  be  tempted  to  give  you  up 
to  the  authorities  to  be  hanged." 

If  a  dagger  had  pierced  Fred's  heart  it  would 
not  have  caused  him  keener  pain  than  the  words  of 
his  father.  He  stood  for  a  moment  as  if  deprived 
of  the  power  of  speech.  Then  the  angry  surges 
of  an  outraged  nature  came  to  his  relief,  and  his 
whole  soul  arose  in  protest  to  the  indignity  put 
upon  him. 

"I  have  neither  repented  of  my  folly,  as  you 
call  it,"  he  replied  fiercely,  "nor  am  I  here  as  a 
spy.  I  came  here  on  an  errand  of  mercy  at  the 
earnest  request  of  Uncle  Charles.  Denounce  me 
as  a  spy  if  you  choose;  the  act  can  be  no  more 
cruel  than  your  words,"  and  Fred  turned  and  left 
the  room. 

"Richard,"  sobbed  Mrs.  Shackelford,  "are  you 
not  too  severe  with  the  boy?     At  extreme  peril  to 


AFTER    THE   BATTLE.  277 

himself  he  brought  a  letter  from  Charles,  and  his 
coming  has  been  a  great  comfort  to  me." 

Colonel  Shackelford  passed  his  hands  before  his 
eyes,  and  then  groped  for  a  chair  as  if  he  had  been 
smitten  with  blindness. 

"Jennie,"  he  replied  in  a  low  voice,  trembling 
with  emotion,  "you  do  not  know  the  agony  the 
course  of  that  boy  has  caused  me.  Perhaps  I  was 
too  severe  just  now.  Tell  him  I  did  not  mean  it. 
But  I  am  half-crazed  over  the  terrible  disaster  at 
Donelson.  In  a  few  days,  at  the  most,  the  North- 
ern horde  will  be  here  in  Nashville.  But,"  and  his 
face  lighted  up  with  enthusiasm,  "all  is  not  lost, 
Jennie;  we  will  soon  be  back.  I  know  something 
of  the  plans  of  General  Johnston.  The  army  will 
concentrate  somewhere  along  the  line  of  the  Mem- 
phis and  Charleston  railroad,  probably  at  Corinth, 
and  then  before  Grant  and  Buell  can  combine  we 
will  crush  them  in  detail.  They  think  Donelson 
has  broken  our  spirit;  they  will  find  out  differ- 
ently." 

Fred  being  only  in  the  next  room,  heard  these 
words,  and  they  made  a  deep  impression  on  his 
mind. 

Colonel  Shackelford  soon  took  his  leave,  bidding 
his  sister-in-law  keep  up  courage,  as  the  Northern 
army  would  soon  be  hurled  back. 

The  panic  in  Nashville  kept  up  until  February 
25th,  when,  to  Fred's  joy.  General  Nelson's  divi- 
sion came  steaming  up  the  river,  and  the  city  was 
occupied    by    the    Federal    army.      The    stars   and 


278  GENERAL   NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

stripes  once  more  floated  over  the  State  capitol,  and 
never  again  were  they  hauled  down. 

The  alarm  in  Nashville  in  a  great  measure  sub- 
sided, and  business  once  more  resumed  its  way. 

As  for  Fred,  his  delight  at  meeting  General 
Nelson  so  soon  was  unbounded.  He  had  come  to 
look  upon  him  almost  as  a  father,  and  the  fiery  old 
fellow  returned  his  affection. 

Fred  told  the  general  of  his  aunt,  and  received 
the  promise  that  he  would  see  that  she  was  not 
molested  or  annoyed  in  any  manner,  and  this 
promise  was  religiously  kept. 

As  long  as  he  remained  in  Nashville  Fred  made 
his  home  at  the  house  of  his  aunt,  and,  notwith- 
standing his  Yankee  proclivities,  became  as  great  a 
favorite  with  his  cousin  Kate  as  ever.  When  the 
time  came  for  Buell  to  advance,  the  family  parted 
with  Fred  almost  as  affectionately  as  though  he  had 
been  one  of  them  ;  and  their  sincere  prayers  followed 
him  that  he  might  be  preserved  from  the  dangers  of 
war. 


CHAPTER    XVIII. 

"WE    BOTH    MUST    DIE." 

A  FEW  days  after  the  surrender  of  Fort  Donel- 
son  General  Grant  was  relieved  of  his  com- 
mand, and  was  even  threatened  with  arrest.  Gen- 
eral Halleck,  in  his  headquarters  at  St.  Louis,  had 
worked  himself  into  a  fit  of  what  he  considered 
most  righteous  anger.  General  Buell  had  ordered 
one  of  Grant's  divisions  to  Nashville,  and  Grant 
had  taken  a  trip  to  that  city  to  find  out  the  reason 
for  the  order.  During  his  absence  some  irregulari- 
ties had  occurred  at  Donelson,  and  Grant  was  most 
viciously  attacked  by  some  anonymous  scribbler, 
and  then  by  the  press.  He  was  accused  of  being 
absent  from  his  command  without  leave,  of  drunk- 
enness, of  maintaining  no  discipline,  and  of  refusing 
to  forward  reports. 

There  was  some  ground  for  the  last  complaint. 
The  telegraph  operator  at  Fort  Henry  was  a  Con- 
federate in  disguise.  He  coolly  pocketed  Halleck's 
dispatches  to  Grant.  He  held  his  position  for  some 
days,  and  then  fled  south  with  his  pocket  full  of 
dispatches.  General  Grant  was  relieved  of  his  com- 
mand, and  General  C.  F.  Smith,  a  gray-haired 
veteran,    who   smoked  a   cigar  as  he  led  his  men  in 

279 


28o  GENERAL   NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

the  charge  at  Donelson,  was  appointed  in  his  place. 
The  feeling  against  Grant  was  so  bitter  at  head- 
quarters, that  General  McClellan  telegraphed  to 
General  Halleck  to  arrest  him  if  he  thought  best. 

The  hero  of  Donelson  deeply  felt  his  disgrace, 
yet  wrote  to  General  Smith: 

"Allow  me  to  congratulate  you  on  your  richly 
deserved  promotion,  and  to  assure  you  that  no 
one  can  feel  more  pleasure  than  myself." 

Even  General  Halleck  was  at  length  convinced 
of  the  injustice  he  had  done  Grant,  and  restored 
him  to  his  command  on  March  13th. 

In  the  mean  time  Grant's  army,  under  Smith, 
had  been  gathering  at  Pittsburg  Landing,  and 
Buell's  army  had  been  concentrated  at  Nashville. 
The  two  armies  were  to  concentrate  at  Pittsburg 
Landing,  and  then  move  on  Corinth,  where  the 
Confederates  were  gathering  in  force. 

Not  a  thought  seemed  to  have  entered  the  minds 
of  the  Union  generals  that  the  army  at  Pittsburg 
Landing  might  bv"^  attacked  before  Buell  could  come 
up.  Halleck,  Grant,  Buell,  Smith,  Sherman — all 
seemed  to  rest  in  fancied  security.  If  the  possibil- 
ity of  an  attack  was  ever  spoken  of,  it  was  passed 
by  as  idle  talk. 

General  Buell  commenced  his  forward  move- 
ment from  Nashville  on  March  15th.  General  A. 
D.  McCook's  division  had  the  advance,  General 
Nelson's  division  came  next.  The  bridge  over 
Duck  river  near  Columbia  was  found  burned.  Buell 
set  to  work  leisurely  to  rebuild  it.      It  took  days. 


"  WE  BOTH  MUST  DTEP  28 1 

But  to  return  to  Fred.  Just  before  the  army 
left  Nashville,  General  Nelson  placed  in  his  hands  a 
parchment. 

"This,"  said  Nelson,  "is  what  General  Buell 
and  myself  were  talking  about  in  Louisville  as  a 
small  reward  for  your  service.  Take  it,  my  boy, 
for  you  richly  deserve  it." 

It  was  a  commission  as  captain,  and  detailed  him 
as  an  independent  scout,  subject  to  the  orders  of 
General  William  Nelson. 

"Why,  General,"  stammered  Fred,  "I  didn't 
want  this.  You  know,  you  told  me  it  was  better 
for  me  not  to  enlist." 

"I  know,"  responded  Nelson,  "but  as  you  are 
with  the  army  so  much,  it  is  better  for  you  to  wear 
a  uniform  and  have  a  rank  that  will  command  re- 
spect." 

So  Fred  became  "captain"  in  earnest. 

During  his  conversations  with  Nelson,  Fred 
told  him  what  he  had  heard  his  father  say  to  his 
aunt  about  Grant  and  Buell  being  crushed  in  de- 
tail, and  the  general  became  thoroughly  imbued 
with  the  idea  that  the  army  at  Pittsburg  Landing 
was  in  grave  danger.  No  other  general  shared  this 
fear.  He  chafed  like  a  caged  tiger  at  the  delay  in 
crossing  Duck  river.  At  length  he  sought  Buell, 
who  laughed  at  his  fears,  and  said  that  he  would 
not  move  until  the  bridge  was  completed.  In  vain 
Nelson  begged  and  pleaded. 

"Why,  Nelson,  what's  the  matter  with  you  any 
way?"  at  length  asked  Buell. 


zSz  GENERAL   NELSOiV'S   SCOUT. 

"Matter?  I  will  tell  you,"  snapped  Nelson. 
"Here  we  have  been  puttering  with  this  bridge  for 
nearly  a  week,  and  all  this  time  the  force  at  Pitts- 
burg Landing  is  in  danger  of  being  attacked  and 
annihilated," 

Buell  leaned  back  in  his  chair,  and  looking  quiz- 
zically at  Nelson,  said : 

"You  seem  to  know  more  about  it.  General,  than 
either  Halleck  or  Grant.  Halleck  telegraphed  me 
that  there  is  no  danger  of  the  force  at  Pittsburg 
Landing  being  attacked." 

"I  do  n't  care  what  Halleck  telegraphs,"  roared 
Nelson,  now  thoroughly  aroused.  "I  tell  you 
there  is;   I  feel  it,  I  know  it." 

"How  do  you  know  it?"  asked  Buell,  showing 
considerable  interest. 

"Why  sense  tells  me.  Look  at  the  situation. 
A  small  force  encamped  only  twenty  miles  from 
Corinth,  where  Johnston  is  concentrating  his  army. 
Johnston  is  a  fool  if  he  does  n't  attack,  and  no  one 
yet  has  ever  accused  him  of  being  one.  General, 
give  my  division  the  advance ;  let  me  ford  Duck 
river." 

Buell  was  really  fond  of  Nelson,  despite  his 
rough,  overbearing  ways,  and  after  some  hesitation 
gave  him  the  required  permission.  The  life  of 
General  Grant  might  not  read  as  it  does  now,  if  that 
permission  had  been  withheld. 

On  the  morning  of  March  29th  Nelson's  division 
forded  Duck  river,  and  started  on  its  forced  march 
for   Savannah,  on   the    Tennessee    river.      On    this 


"  rVE  BOTH  MUST  DIE:'  283 

march  Nelson  showed  no  mercy  to  stragglers,  and 
many  were  the  curses  heaped  upon  his  head.  He 
was  no  favorite  with  his  troops. 

One  day  Fred  found  a  boy,  no  older  than  him- 
self, lashed  behind  a  cannon.  The  lad  belonged  to 
an  Indiana  regiment  that  in  some  manner  had  in- 
curred the  displeasure  of  the  general,  and  he  was 
particularly  severe  on  members  of  this  regiment  if 
found  straggling.  The  boy  in  question  had  been 
found  away  from  his  command,  and  had  been  tied 
by  his  wrists  to  a  cannon.  Behind  this  gun  he  had 
to  march  through  the  mud,  every  jolt  sending  sharp 
pain  through  his  wrists  and  arms,  and  if  he  should 
fall  life  itself  would  be  imperiled.  It  was  a  heart- 
less, and  in  this  case,  cruel  punishment.  Fred 
noticed  the  boy,  and  rode  up  to  him  and  asked  him 
his  name,  and  he  gave  it  as  Hugh  Raymond.  He 
was  a  fine-looking  fellow,  and  seemed  to  feel  deeply 
his  humiliation.  He  was  covered  with  mud,  and 
the  tears  that  he  could  not  hold  back  had  left  their 
dirty  trail  down  his  cheeks.  Fred  went  to  Nelson, 
begged  for  the  boy  s  release,  and  got  it.  It  was 
but  few  requests  that  Nelson  would  not  grant 
Fred. 

When  Nelson  started  on  his  march  to  Savannah 
he  expected  to  reach  that  place  on  April  7th.  But 
once  on  the  march  his  eagerness  increased,  and  he 
resolved  to  reach  Savannah,  if  possible,  by  the 
4th,  or  at  least  the  5th  of  the  month. 

On  the  morning  of  the  third  day's  march  Fred 
met  with  an  adventure  that   haunted   him  for  years 


284  GENERAL   KELSON'S  SCOUT. 

afterward.  He  never  thought  of  it  without  a 
shudder,  and  over  and  over  again  he  lived  it  in  his 
dreams,  awaking  with  a  cry  of  agony  that  sounded 
unearthly  to  those  who  heard  it. 

General  Nelson  and  staff  had  put  up  at  the  com- 
modious house  of  a  planter  named  Lane.  They 
were  most  hospitably  entertained,  although  Mr. 
Lane  made  no  secret  of  the  fact  that  he  was  an 
ardent  sympathizer  with  the  South. 

In  the  morning,  as  Fred  was  about  to  mount  his 
horse  to  resume  the  march,  he  discovered  that  he 
had  left  his  field-glass  in  the  room  he  had  occupied 
during  the  night.  On  returning  for  it,  he  heard 
voices  in  the  next  room,  one  of  which  sounded  so 
familiar  that  he  stopped  a  moment  to  listen,  and 
to  his  amazement  recognized  the  voice  of  his  cousin 
Calhoun.  What  could  it  mean?  What  was  he 
doing  there?  One  thing  was  certain;  he  had  been 
exchanged  and  was  once  more  in  the  army.  Cal- 
houn and  Mr.  Lane  were  engaged  in  earnest  con- 
versation, and  Fred  soon  learned  that  his  cousin 
had  been  concealed  in  the  house  during  the  night. 

"Have  you  learned  what  you  wished?"  Fred 
heard  Mr.  Lane  ask. 

"I  have,"  replied  Calhoun,  "thanks  to  your 
kindness.  I  heard  Nelson  say  he  would  rush  his 
division  through,  and  that  he  wanted  to  be  in  Sa- 
vannah by  the  5th.  That  is  two  days  sooner  than 
we  expected.  Johnston  must,  shall  strike  Grant 
before  that  time.  I  must  be  in  Corinth  within  the 
next  twenty-four  hours,  if   I   kill  a  dozen  horses  in 


"  WE  BOTH  MUST  DIE."  3S5 

getting  there.  Is  my  horse  where  I  left  him,  at 
the  stable  in  the  woods?" 

"He  is,"  replied  Mr.  Lane;  "and  well  cared  for 
and  groomed.  But  breakfast  is  ready;  you  must 
eat  a  hearty  meal  before  you  start." 

Fred  realized  that  the  fate  of  an  army  was  at 
stake.  Something  must  be  done,  and  that  some- 
thing must  be  done  quickly.  Slipping  out  of  the 
house,  he  took  a  look  around.  Back  of  the  house 
about  a  half  a  mile  distant  was  a  thick  piece  of  wood. 
A  lane  led  through  the  fields  to  this  wood.  No 
doubt  it  was  there  that  Calhoun's  horse  was  con- 
cealed. 

Fred  quickly  made  up  his  mind  what  to  do. 
Mounting  his  horse,  he  rode  rapidly  away  until  out 
of  sight  of  the  house;  then,  making  Prince  jump 
the  fence,  he  rode  through  the  field  until  he  reached 
the  wood,  and  then  back  nearly  to  the  lane  he  had 
noticed.  Tying  his  horse,  he  crept  close  to  the  path, 
and  concealed  himself.  He  had  not  long  to  wait.  He 
soon  saw  Calhoun  coming  up  the  path  with  quick, 
springing  steps.  To  Fred's  great  joy  he  was  alone. 
He  let  him  pass,  and  then  stealthily  as  an  Indian 
followed  him.  Calhoun  soon  reached  the  rude 
stable,  and  went  in. 

"Now,  my  hearty,"  said  he,  as  he  patted  his 
horse,  "we  have  a  long  hard  ride  before  us.  But 
we  carry  news,  my  boy — news  that  may  mean  inde- 
pendence to  the  Sunny  South." 

Strong  arms  were  suddenly  thrown  around  him, 
and  despite  his  desperate  resistance  and  struggles. 


286  GENERAL  NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

he  soon  found  himself  lying  on  his  face,  his  hands 
held  behind  his  back  and  securely  tied.  His  ankles 
were  then  firmly  bound  together.  When  all  this 
was  done  he  was  raised  to  his  feet  and  a  voice  said : 

"Sorry,  Cal,  but  I  had  to  do  it,"  and  to  Cal- 
houn's amazement  his  cousin  stood  before  him, 
panting  from  his  exertion. 

For  a  moment  Calhoun  was  speechless  with 
astonishment ;  then  his  rage  knew  no  limit,  and 
bound  as  he  was,  he  tried  to  get  at  his  cousin. 

"I  reckon,"  said  Fred,  quietly,  "that  I  must 
make  you  more  secure,"  and  taking  a  stout  strap 
he  lashed  him  securely  to  a  post. 

"Is  this  the  way  you  keep  your  oath?"  hissed 
Calhoun,  and  he  spat  at  Fred  in  his  contempt. 
"Loose  me,  you  sneaking  villain,  loose  me  at  once, 
or  I  will  raise  an  alarm,  and  Mr.  Lane  and  his  men 
will  be  here,  and  they  will  make  short  work  of 
you." 

Just  then  the  notes  of  a  bugle,  sweet  and  clear, 
came  floating  through  the  air. 

"Do  you  hear  that,  Cal?"  answered  Fred. 
"You  had  better  raise  no  alarm;  McCook's  division 
is  passing,  and  I  have  but  to  say  a  word  and  you 
swing." 

Calhoun  ground  his  teeth  in  impotent  rage.  At 
last  he  asked : 

"Fred,  what  do  you  want?  Why  do  you  use 
me  so?  Have  you  not  sworn  to  guard  my  life  as 
sacredly  as  your  own?" 

Fred  stood  looking  at  his  cousin  a  moment,  as 


"  WE  BOTH  MUST  D/E."  2S7 

if  in  deep  thought;  then  an  expression  of  keenest 
pain  came  over  his  face,  and  he  said  in  a  strained, 
unnatural  voice : 

"Calhoun,  believe  me,  I  would  I  were  dead  in- 
stead of  standing  before  you  as  I  do  now." 

"I  should  think  that  you  would,  if  you  have  a 
vestige  of  honor  left,"  answered  Calhoun,  with  a 
sneer.  "An  oath,  which  an  honorable  man  would 
hold  more  sacred  than  life  itself  seems  to  be  lightly 
regarded  by  you." 

"I  shall  come  to  that  directly,"  replied  Fred, 
in  the  same  unnatural  tone.  To  him  his  voice 
sounded  afar  off,  as  if  some  one  else  were  talking. 

"Now,  Calhoun,  listen;  you  have  a  secret,  a 
secret  on  which  the  fate  of  an  army  depends." 

"How  do  you  know  that?"  asked  Calhoun. 

"I  know.  I  heard  you  and  Mr.  Lane  talking. 
Calhoun,  you  have  been  playing  the  spy  again. 
Hark!  do  you  hear  the  tramp  of  McCook's  columns. 
If  I  did  my  duty  I  would  cry,  'Here  is  a  spy,'  and 
what  then?" 

Calhoun's  face  grew  ashen;  then  his  natural 
bravery  came  to  his  rescue. 

"I  defy  you,"  he  exclaimed,  his  eyes  flaming 
with  wrath.  "Hang  me  if  you  will,  and  then  in 
the  sight  of  God  behold  yourself  a  murderer  worse 
than  Cain." 

"Calhoun,  once  more  I  say,  listen.  The  infor- 
mation that  you  have  you  shall  not  take  to  John- 
ston. Now,  see  how  I  trust  you.  What  I  do  now 
would  hang  me  instead  of  you,  if  Buell  knew.      But 


288  GENERAL   NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

I  trust  you  with  more  than  Hfe ;  I  trust  you  with 
my  honor.  Give  me  your  sacred  word  that  you  will 
keep  away  from  Corinth  until  after  Buell  and  Grant 
have  joined  forces;  promise  as  sacredly  that  you 
will  not  directly  or  indirectly  divulge  in  any  manner 
to  any  person  the  knowledge  you  have  gained,  and 
I  will  release  you." 

Calhoun  looked  Fred  in  the  face,  hesitated,  and 
then  slowly  answered:  "You  seem  to  think  I  have 
more  honor  and  will  keep  an  oath  better  than  your- 
self.     I  shall  make  no  such  promise." 

Fred  staggered  back.  "Calhoun,"  he  cried, 
"you  do  not,  you  cannot  mean  it.  You  do  not 
know  what  you  say.  Promise,  for  the  love  of 
heaven,  promise!" 

"I  will  not  promise,  I  will  die  first,"  replied 
Calhoun,  doggedly.  A  faint  hope  was  arising  in 
his  mind  that  Fred  was  only  trying  to  frighten  him ; 
that  he  had  only  to  remain  firm,  and  that,  at  the 
worst,  Fred  would  only  try  to  keep  him  a  prisoner. 

Calhoun's  words  were  to  Fred  as  a  sentence  of 
death.  He  sank  on  his  knees,  and  lifted  his  hands 
imploringly. 

"Calhoun,"  he  moaned,  "see  me,  see  me  here 
at  your  feet.  It  is  I,  not  you,  who  is  to  be  pitied. 
For  the  love  we  bear  each  other" — at  the  word 
"love"  Calhoun's  lips  curled  in  contempt — "for  the 
sake  of  those  near  and  dear  to  us,  for  the  honor  of 
our  names,  promise,  oh,  promise  me!" 

"I  tell  you  I  will  not  promise.  See,  I  spit  on 
you,  I  despise  you,  defy  you." 


"  WE  BOTH  MUST  D/E."  289 

"Then  you  must  die,"  replied  Fred,  slowly  ris- 
ing to  his  feet. 

Again  Calhoun's  face  grew  ashen.  "Fred,  you 
will  not  give  me  up  to  be  hanged?"  he  asked, 
tremulously. 

"No,  Calhoun,  your  dishonor  would  be  my  dis- 
honor. I  cannot  keep  my  oath,  and  have  you 
hanged  as  a  spy." 

"What  will  you  do  then?"  asked  Calhoun. 

"I  shall  shoot  you  with  my  own  hand." 

"Great  God,  Fred!"  gasped  Calhoun,  shudder- 
ing.     "You  do  not,  cannot  mean  that?" 

"It  is  the  only  way  I  can  keep  my  oath  and  still 
prevent  you  from  carrying  the  news  that  would 
mean  destruction  to  Grant's  army." 

"Fred!  Fred!  you  are  a  demon;  you  mock  me. 
How  can  you  keep  your  oath  by  murdering  me?" 

"Calhoun,  I  swore  to  consider  your  honor  as 
sacred  as  my  own,  to  value  your  life  as  highly  as 
my  own,  to  share  with  you  whatever  fate  might 
come.  I  shall  keep  my  oath.  After  I  put  a  bullet 
through  your  heart,  I  shall  put  one  through  my 
own  brain.      We  botJi  must  die.'' 

Calhoun's  face  seemed  frozen  with  horror.  He 
gasped  and  tried  to  speak,  but  no  words  came. 

"Calhoun,"  continued  Fred,  in  a  tone  that 
sounded  as  a  voice  from  one  dead,  "would  that  you 
had  promised,  for  it  can  do  no  good  not  to  promise. 
Forgive  me,  as  I  forgive  you.  Now,  say  your 
prayers,  for  in  a  moment  we  both  will  be  standing 
before  our  Maker." 


290  GENERAL   NELSONS  SCOUT. 

Fred  bowed  his  head  in  silent  "prayer;  but  Cal- 
houn, with  his  horror-stricken  face,  never  took  his 
eyes  from  off  his  cousin. 

"Good-bye,  Calhoun,"  said  Fred,  as  he  raised 
his  revolver. 

"For  God's  sake,  don't  shoot!  I  promise." 
The  words  seemed  to  explode  from  Calhoun's  lips. 

For  a  moment  Fred  stood  as  motionless  as  a 
statue,  with  the  revolver  raised ;  then  the  weapon 
dropped  from  his  nerveless  hand,  and  with  a  low 
moan  he  plunged  forward  on  his  face. 

So  long  did  he  lie  in  a  swoon  that  Calhoun 
thought  he  was  dead,  and  called  to  him  in  the 
most  endearing  tones.  At  last  there  was  a  slight 
quivering  of  the  limbs,  then  he  began  to  moan ; 
finally  he  sat  up  and  looked  around  as  one  dazed. 
Seeing  Calhoun,  he  started,  passed  his  hand  across 
his  brow  as  if  to  collect  his  thoughts,  and  said,  as 

if  in  surprise:      "Why,  Calhoun "      Then  it  all 

came  back  to  him  in  its  terror  and  awfulness,  and 
he  fell  back  sick  and  faint.  Rallying,  he  struggled 
to  his  feet,  tottered  to  Calhoun,  and  cut  the  bonds 
that  bound  him. 

"Go,  go,  Cal!"  he  whispered.  "It  will  not  do 
for  us  to  be  found  here  together." 

The  two  boys  clasped  hands  for  a  moment,  then 
each  turned  and  went  his  separate  way. 

When  Fred  joined  Nelson  an  hour  later  the  gen- 
eral looked  at  him  sharply,  and  asked:  "What  's 
the  matter,  Fred?  Are  you  sick?  You  look  ten 
years  older  than  you  did  yesterday." 


"  For  God's  Sake,  don't  shoot !  I  promise. 


I 


"JVE  BOTH  MUST  DIE."  291 

"I  am  not  really  sick,  but  I  am  not  feeling  well, 
General,"  replied  Fred;  "and  I  believe,  with  your 
permission,  I  will  take  an  ambulance  for  the  rest  of 
the  day." 

"Do,  Fred,  do,"  kindly  replied  Nelson,  and  for 
the  rest  of  the  day  Fred  rode  in  an  ambulance, 
where  he  could  be  alone  with  his  thoughts. 

That  evening  he  asked  General  Nelson  when  he 
expected  the  division  would  reach  Savannah. 

"By  the  5th,  if  possible,  on  the  6th  anyway," 
answered  the  general. 

"Make  it  the  5th,  General;  don't  let  anything 
stop  you;  hurry!  hurry!"  and  thus  saying,  Fred 
walked  away. 

Nelson  looked  after  him  and  muttered:  "I 
wonder  what  's  the  matter  with  the  boy;  he  has  n't 
appeared  himself  to-day;  but  it  may  be  he  will  be 
all  right  in  the  morning.  I  shall  take  his  advice 
and  hurry,  anyway." 

The  next  day  Nelson  urged  on  his  men  with  a 
fury  that  caused  the  air  to  be  blue  with  oaths. 
And  it  was  well  that  he  did,  or  Shiloh  would  have 
never  been  reached  in  time  to  aid  the  gallant  sol- 
diers of  Grant. 

Buell  saw  no  need  of  hurrying.  He  thought  it 
would  be  a  fine  thing  to  concentrate  his  whole  army 
at  Waynesborough  and  march  into  Savannah  with 
flying  colors,  showing  Grant  what  a  grand  army  he 
had.  He  telegraphed  General  Halleck  for  permis- 
sion to  do  so,  and  the  request  was  readily  granted. 
In  some  manner  it  became  known  to  the  Confeder- 


292  GENERAL  NELSOJSPS  SCOUT. 

ate  spies  that  Buell's  army  was  to  halt  at  Waynes- 
borough,  and  the  glad  tidings  were  quickly  borne  to 
General  Johnston,  and  when  that  general  marched 
forth  to  battle  he  had  no  expectation  that  he  would 
have  to  meet  any  of  Buell's  men. 

General  Buell  hurried  forward  to  stop  Nelson  at 
Waynesborough,  according  to  his  plan;  but  to  his 
chagrin  he  found  that  Nelson,  in  his  headlong 
haste,  was  already  beyond  Waynesborough,  and  so 
the  plan  of  stopping  him  had  to  be  given  up. 

When  General  Nelson's  advance  was  a  little  be- 
yond Waynesborough,  a  party  engaged  in  the  con- 
struction of  a  telegraph  line  from  Savannah  to 
Nashville  was  met.  A  telegram  was  handed  their 
general,  which  read : 

To  THE  OFFICER  COMMANDING  BUELL'S  ADVANCE: 

There  is  no  need  of  haste;  come  on  by  easy  stages. 
U.  S.  Grant, 

Major-General  Commanding. 

Nelson  read  the  telegram,  and  turning  to  Fred 
said: 

"This  is  small  comfort  for  all  my  hurry.  I 
wonder  if  I  have  made  a  fool  of  myself,  after  all. 
Buell  will  have  the  joke  on  me,  sure." 

"Better  be  that  way  than  have  you  needed  and 
not  there,"  answered  Fred. 

"If  we  are  needed  and  are  not  there.  Grant  can 
only  blame  himself,"  was  Nelson's  reply. 

At  noon  on  April  5th  Ammen's  brigade,  the  ad- 
vance of  Nelson's  division,  marched  into  Savannah. 

Colonel  Ammen  reported  his  arrival,  and  said : 


"  WE  BOTH  MUST  DIEr  293 

"My  men  are  not  tired;  we  can  march  on  to 
Pittsburg  Landing  if  necessary." 

The  answer  was:  "Rest,  and  make  your  men 
comfortable.  There  will  be  no  battle  at  Pittsburg 
Landing.  Boats  will  be  sent  for  you  in  a  day  or 
two." 

There  was  to  be  a  rude  awakening  on  the  mor- 
row. 


CHAPTER    XIX. 

SHILOH. 

tt'T^HE  sun  of  Austerlitz"  was  neither  brighter 

JL  nor  more  glorious  than  the  sun  which 
arose  over  the  field  of  Shiloh  Sunday  morning, 
April  6,  1862. 

Around  the  little  log  chapel,  wont  to  echo  to 
the  voice  of  prayer  and  song  of  praise,  along  the 
hillsides  and  in  the  woods,  lay  encamped  the  Fed- 
eral army.  The  soldiers  had  lain  down  the  night 
before  without  a  thought  of  what  this  bright,  sunny 
Sabbath  would  bring  forth.  A  sense  of  security 
pervaded  the  whole  army.  From  commander  down 
to  private,  there  was  scarcely  a  thought  of  an  attack. 

'T  have  scarcely  the  faintest  idea  of  an  attack," 
wrote  Grant  to  Halleck  on  April  5th. 

On  the  evening  of  the  same  day  Sherman  wrote 
to  Grant:  "I  do  not  apprehend  anything  like  an 
attack  upon  our  position." 

Yet  when  these  words  were  written  the  Confed- 
erate army  was  in  battle  array  not  much  over  three 
miles  distant. 

But  there  was  one  general  in  the  Federal  army 
who  was  uneasy,  he  hardly  knew  why.  He  was 
little   known   at   the   time,  he   never   held  a  distin- 

294 


SHILOH.  295 

guished  command  afterward ;  yet  it  was  by  his 
vigilance  that  the  Federal  army  was  saved  from 
surprise,  perhaps  from  capture.  This  general  was 
Prentiss.  A  vague  idea  that  something  was  wrong 
haunted  him.  The  ominous  silence  in  front  op- 
pressed him,  as  something  to  be  feared.  Then  on 
Saturday  a  curious  fact  occurred.  An  unusual 
number  of  squirrels  and  rabbits  were  noticed  dodg- 
ing through  the  line,  and  they  were  all  headed  in 
one  direction — toward  Pittsburg  Landing.  What 
had  startled  them?  It  set  General  Prentiss  think- 
ing. 

To  guard  more  surely  against  surprise  Prentiss 
posted  his  pickets  a  mile  and  a  half  in  front  of  his 
lines,  an  unusual  distance.  At  three  o'clock  Sun- 
day morning  he  sent  three  companies  of  the 
Twenty-fifth  Missouri  out  on  a  reconnoitering  ex- 
pedition. These  three  companies  followed  a  road 
that  obliqued  to  the  right,  and  a  little  after  daylight 
met  the  enemy's  advance  in  front  of  Sherman's 
division.      Thus  the  battle  of  Shiloh  opened. 

When  the  first  shots  were  fired,  Preston  John- 
ston, son  of  the  Confederate  commander,  looked  at 
his  watch,  and  it  was  just  fourteen  minutes  past 
five  o'clock. 

This  little  advance  band  must  have  made  a 
brave  fight,  for  Major  Hardcastle,  in  command  of 
the  Confederate  outposts,  reports  that  he  fought  a 
thousand  men  an  hour.  It  was  after  six  o'clock 
when  the  general  advance  of  the  whole  Confederate 
army  commenced,  and  the  pickets  along  the  line  of 


296  GENERAL   NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

Prentiss'  and  Sherman's  divisions  were  driven  in. 
Preston  Johnston  states  that  it  was  seven  o'clock 
when  the  first  cannon  shot  was  fired.  It  was  eight 
o'clock  before  the  engagement  became  general  along 
the  whole  line,  and  at  that  time  portions  of  Pren- 
tiss' division  had  been  fighting  for  nearly  three 
hours. 

General  Grant  was  at  breakfast  in  Savannah, 
nine  miles  away,  when  he  was  startled  by  the 
booming  of  cannon  in  the  direction  of  Shiloh. 
Hastily  writing  an  order  to  General  Nelson  to  pro- 
cure a  guide  and  march  his  division  up  the  river  to 
a  point  opposite  Pittsburg  Landing,  Grant  left  his 
breakfast  half-eaten,  and  boarding  his  dispatch  boat 
was  soon  steaming  up  the  river.  His  fear  was  that 
the  isolated  division  of  General  Lewis  Wallace, 
which  lay  at  Crump's  Landing,  had  been  attacked. 
Finding  this  not  to  be  the  case  when  he  reached 
Crump's,  he  bade  Wallace  hold  his  division  in  readi- 
ness and  to  await  orders,  and  steamed  on. 

The  roar  of  cannon  had  become  almost  continu- 
ous. Turning  to  Rawlins,  his  chief-of-stafT,  Grant 
said : 

"Rawlins,  I  am  afraid  this  is  a  general  attack. 
I  did  not  expect  it.  Prentiss'  and  Sherman's  divi- 
sions are  in  front,  and  both  are  composed  of  raw 
troops;  but  if  we  can  hold  them  until  Wallace  and 
Nelson  come  we  are  all  right." 

"It  is  a  pity  you  did  not  order  Wallace  up  when 
you  were  there,"  answered  Rawlins. 

"Yes,"  answered   Grant,  "but  I  couldn't  make 


SHILOH.  297 

up  my  mind  it  was  a  general  attack.  I  am  not  en- 
tirely sure  yet." 

" It  sounds  very  much  like  it,"  replied  Rawlins, 
grimly. 

When  Grant  reached  the  landing  the  battle  was 
raging  furiously,  and  all  doubts  as  to  its  being  a 
general  attack  were  removed  from  his  mind.  Al- 
ready the  vanguard  of  what  was  afterward  an  army 
of  panic-stricken  men  had  commenced  gathering 
under  the  river  bank. 

A  staff  ofBcer  was  sent  back  immediately  to 
order  General  Wallace  to  come  at  once.  Grant 
then  set  to  work  quickly  to  do  what  he  could  to 
stem  the  tide,  which  was  already  turning  against 
him.  Two  or  three  regiments  which  had  just 
landed  he  ordered  to  points  where  they  were  the 
most  needed.  He  then  rode  the  entire  length  of 
the  line,  encouraging  his  generals,  telling  them  to 
stand  firm  until  Wallace  and  Nelson  came,  and  all 
would  be  well. 

He  found  Sherman  engaged  in  a  terrific  conflict. 
Some  of  his  regiments  had  broken  at  the  first  fire, 
and  fled  panic-stricken  to  the  Landing.  Sherman 
was  straining  every  nerve  to  hold  his  men  firm. 
Oblivious  of  danger,  he  rode  amid  the  storm  of  bul- 
lets unmoved,  encouraging,  pleading,  threatening, 
as  the  case  might  be.  Grant  cautioned  him  to  be 
careful,  and  not  expose  himself  unnecessarily,  but 
Sherman  answered:  "If  I  can  stem  the  tide  by 
sacrificing  my  life,  I  will  willingly  do  it." 


298  GENERAL  NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

Then  turning  to  Grant,  he  said,  with  feeling: 
"General,  I  did  not  expect  this;   forgive  me.' 

' '  Forgive  you  for  what  ?' '  asked  Grant,  in  surprise. 

"I  am  your  senior  general,"  answered  Sherman. 
"You  depended  on  me  for  reports;  I  quieted  your 
fears.  I  reported  there  was  no  danger  of  an  attack. 
I  could  n't  believe  it  this  morning  until  my  orderly 
was  shot  by  my  side,  and  I  saw  the  long  lines  of 
the  enemy  sweeping  forward.      Forgive  me." 

Grant  was  greatly  moved.  "There  is  nothing 
to  forgive,"  he  said,  gently.  "The  mistake  is 
mine  as  well  as  yours.  Neither  did  I  expect  this 
attack.  If  I  had,  I  could  have  had  Buell  here.  As 
it  is,  Wallace  and  Nelson  will  soon  be  here,  and 
we  will  whip  them ;   never  fear. 

"God  grant  it!''  fervently  replied  Sherman. 

"By  ten  o'clock  Prentiss  had  been  pushed  back 
clear  through  and  beyond  his  camp,  and  had  taken 
position  along  a  sunken  road.  General  W.  H.  L. 
Wallace's  division  came  up  and  joined  him  on  the 
right.  This  part  of  the  field  was  afterward  known 
as  the  "Hornet's  Nest." 

Here  Grant  visited  them,  and  seeing  the 
strength  of  the  position,  told  them  to  hold  it  to  the 
last  man. 

"We  will,"  responded  both  Wallace  and  Pren- 
tiss. 

Bravely  did  they  keep  that  promise.  For 
hours  the  Confederate  lines  beat  against  them  like 
the  waves  of  the  ocean,  only  to  be  flung  back  torn 
and  bleeding. 


SHILOH.  299 

The  roar  of  battle  was  now  terrific.  Both  flanks 
of  the  Federal  army  were  bent  back  like  a  bow. 
Every  moment  the  number  of  panic-stricken  sol- 
diers under  the  bank  grew  larger. 

Noon  came,  but  no  Lew  Wallace,  no  Nelson. 
Turning  to  an  aid.  Grant  said:  ''Go  for  Wallace; 
bid  him  hurry,  hurry." 

Everywhere,  except  in  the  center,  the  Confed- 
erates were  pressing  the  Union  lines  back.  But  the 
desperate  resistance  offered  surprised  Johnston ; 
he  had  expected  an  easier  victory.  Many  of  his 
best  regiments  had  been  cut  to  pieces.  Thou- 
sands of  his  men  had  also  fled  to  the  rear.  The 
afternoon  was  passing;  the  fighting  must  be 
pressed. 

A  desperate  effort  was  made  to  turn  the  Federal 
left  flank,  and  thus  gain  the  Landing.  Like  iron 
Hurlbut's  men  stood,  and  time  after  time  hurled 
back  the  charging  columns.  At  last  the  Confed- 
eraftes  refused  to  charge  again.  Then  General 
Johnston  placed  himself  at  their  head  and  said:  "I 
will  lead  you,  my  children." 

The  effect  was  electrical.  With  wild  cheers  his 
men  pressed  forward ;  nothing  could  withstand  the 
fury  of  the  charge.  The  Federal  left  was  crushed, 
hurled  back  to  the  Landing  in  a  torn,  disorganized 
mass. 

But  the  brave  leader  fell  mortally  wounded.  For 
a  time  the  Confederate  army  stood  as  if  appalled 
at  its  great  loss.  The  thunder  of  battle  died  away, 
only  to  break  out   here  and   there  in  fitful  bursts. 


300  GENERAL  NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

But  the  respite  was  brief,  and  then  came  the  final 
desperate  onslaught. 

With  features  as  impassive  as  stone,  Grant  saw 
his  army  crumbling  to  pieces.  Ofificer  after  officer 
had  been  sent  to  see  what  had  become  of  General 
Lew  Wallace;  he  should  have  been  on  the  field 
hours  before.  With  anxious  eyes  Grant  looked 
across  the  river  to  see  if  he  could  catch  the  first 
fluttering  banner  of  Nelson's  division.  There  was 
no  aid  in  sight. 

An  ofificer  rides  up,  one  of  the  messengers  he 
had  sent  for  Wallace.  Grant's  face  lights  up. 
Wallace  must  be  near.  But,  no.  The  officer  re- 
ports: "Wallace  took  the  wrong  road.  I  found 
him  five  miles  further  from  the  Landing  than  when 
he  started.  Then  he  countermarched,  instead  of 
hurrying  forward  left  in  front.  He  lost  much  pre- 
cious time.  Then  he  is  marching  so  slow,  so  slow. 
He  will  not  be  here  before  night." 

For  an  instant  a  spasm  of  pain  passed  over 
Grant's  face.  "He  countermarched  ;  coming  slow," 
he  said,  as  if  to  himself,  "Great  God,  what  does 
he  mean?"  and  then  all  was  calm  again. 

Turning  to  Colonel  Webster,  he  said:  "Plant 
the  siege  guns  around  the  Landing.  See  that  you 
have  every  available  piece  of  artillery  in  position," 

And  it  was  only  this  frowning  line  of  artillery 
that  stood  between  Grant's  army  and  utter  rout. 

"Have  you  any  way  of  retreat  mapped  out?" 
asked  General  Buell  of  Grant.  Buell  had  come  up 
from  Savannah  on  a  boat,  and  was  now  on  the  field, 


SHILOH.  301 

viewing  with  consternation  and  alarm  the  tremen- 
dous evidences  of  demoralization  and  defeat. 

Turning  to  him  as  quick  as  a  flash,  Grant  re- 
plied:  "Retreat!  retreat!  I  have  not  yet  de- 
spaired of  victory." 

Both  the  right  and  left  wings  of  Grant's  army 
were  now  crushed  back  from  the  center.  Around 
the  flanks  of  W.  H.  L.  Wallace's  and  Prentiss' 
divisions  the  exultant  Confederates  poured.  Well 
had  Wallace  and  Prentiss  obeyed  the  orders  of 
Grant  to  hold  their  position.  From  ten  o'clock  in 
the  forenoon  until  nearly  five  o'clock  in  the  after- 
noon their  lines  had  hurled  back  every  attack  of  the 
enemy.  The  Hornet's  Nest  stung  every  time  it 
was  touched.  But  now  the  divisions  were  hemmed 
in  on  every  side.  The  brave  Wallace  formed  his 
men  to  cut  their  way  out,  and  as  he  was  cheering 
them  on  he  fell  mortally  wounded.  No  better  sol- 
dier than  Wallace  fell  on  that  bloody  field.  As  for 
the  two  divisions,  they  were  doomed. 

General  Grant  sits  on  his  horse,  watching  the 
preparations  for  the  last  stand.  An  officer,  despair 
written  in  every  lineament  of  his  face,  rides  up  to 
him. 

"General,"  he  says,  "Sherman  reports  that  he 
has  taken  his  last  position.  He  has  but  the  rem- 
nant of  one  brigade  with  him  and  what  stragglers  he 
has  gathered.  His  slender  line  cannot  withstand 
another  attack." 

"Go  back,"  quietly  said  Grant,  "and  tell  Sher- 
man to  hold  if  possible;  night  is  most  here." 


302  GENERAL  NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

McClernand's  division  had  been  standing  bravely 
all  day,  and  had  furnished  fewer  stragglers  than 
any  other  division  in  the  army,  but  now  an  orderly 
with  a  pale  face  and  his  left  arm  resting  in  a 
bloody  sling,  came  spurring  his  reeking  horse  up  to 
Grant,  and  exclaimed: 

"General  McClernand  bade  me  report,  that  after 
his  division  had  most  gallantly  repulsed  the  last 
charge  of  the  enemy,  for  some  unaccountable 
reason,  the  left  regiments  broke,  and  are  fleeing 
panic-stricken  to  the  Landing." 

"Go  tell  McClernand,"  said  Grant,  "that  he  has 
done  well,  but  he  must  hold  out  just  a  little  longer. 
Wallace  will  be  here  shortly." 

General  Hurlbut,  his  face  black  with  the  smoke 
of  battle,  rode  up.  "General,"  he  said,  in  a 
broken  voice,  "my  division  is  gone,  the  whole  left 
is  gone ;  the  way  to  the  Landing  'is  open  to  the 
enemy." 

"General,"  replied  Grant,  without  a  quiver, 
"rally  what  broken  regiments  and  stragglers  you 
can  behind  the  guns,  close  up  as  much  as  possible  on 
McClernand,  and  hold  your  position  to  the  last  man." 

Now  there  came  roaring  past  a  confused  mass  of 
white-faced  oflficers  and  soldiers  commingled,  a 
human  torrent  stricken  with  deadly  fear. 

"All  is  lost!  All  is  lost!"  they  cry.  "Prentiss 
and  Wallace  have  surrendered." 

Grant's  face  was  seen  to  twitch.  "Oh,  for  Lew 
Wallace,  for  Nelson,  or  for  night,"  he  groaned. 

From  across  the  river  there  came  to  his  ears  the 


SHILOH.  303 

sound  of  cheering.  Grant  looked,  and  there  among 
the  trees  he  saw  the  banners  of  Nelson's  regiments 
waving. 

Hope  came  into  his  eyes;  his  face  lighted  up. 

"Go,  go!"  he  cried  to  his  aids,  "go  to  Sherman, 
to  McClernand,  to  Hurlbut.  Tell  them  to  hold! 
hold!   hold!        Help  is  near." 

But  if  Grant  had  known  it  the  danger  had  al- 
ready passed ;  for  Beauregard  had  given  orders  for 
his  army  to  cease  fighting.  Night  was  coming  on, 
the  capture  of  W.  H.  L.  Wallace's  and  Prentiss' 
divisions  had  disarranged  his  lines,  and  thinking 
that  he  was  sure  of  his  prey  in  the  morning,  he  had 
given  orders  to  withdraw. 

One  brigade  of  the  Confederate  army  did  not 
receive  this  order,  and  when  Nelson's  advance 
crossed  the  river  this  brigade  was  charging  the  line 
of  cannon  on  the  left.  These  cannon  were  entirely 
unprotected  by  infantry,  and  Grant  himself  placed 
Nelson's  men  in  line  as  they  arrived. 

The  Confederate  brigade  was  advancing  with  tri- 
umphant shouts,  when  they  were  met  with  a  with- 
ering volley  and  sent  reeling  back.  Then,  to  his 
surprise,  the  commander  found  that  of  all  of  the 
Confederate  army  his  brigade  was  the  only  one  con- 
tinuing the  fight,  and  he  hastily  fell  back.  The 
battle  for  the  day  was  over. 

Alone  and  practically  unaided  the  brave  soldiers 
of  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee  had  fought  the  bat- 
tle of  Sunday  and  saved  themselves  from  capture. 
To  them  belongs  the  glory. 


304  GENERAL   NELSON'S   SCOUT. 

The  battle  of  Monday  was  mainly  the  fight  of 
the  Army  of  the  Ohio.  Without  its  aid  Grant 
could  never  have  been  able  to  turn  defeat  into  vic- 
tory, and  send  the  Confederate  hosts  in  headlong 
flight  back  to  Corinth.  There  would  have  been  no 
advance  Monday  morning  if  Buell  had  not  been  on 
the  field.  The  whole  energy  of  Grant  would  have 
been  devoted  to  the  saving  of  what  remained  of 
his  army. 

The  terrible  conflict  of  the  day  had  left  its  im- 
press on  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee.  There  was 
but  a  remnant  in  line  capable  of  battle  when  night 
came. 

The  generals  of  divisions  were  so  disheartened 
that  the  coming  of  Buell  failed  to  restore  their  spir- 
its. Even  the  lion-hearted  Sherman  wavered  and 
was  downcast.  Grant  found  him  sitting  in  the 
darkness  beside  a  tree,  his  head  buried  in  his  hands, 
and  his  heart  full  of  fears.  He  had  fought  as  gen- 
erals seldom  fight.  Three  horses  had  been  shot 
under  him,  and  he  had  received  two  wounds. 
When  Grant  told  him  there  was  to  be  an  advance  in 
the  morning,  he  sadly  shook  his  head  and  said : 
"No  use.  General,  no  use;  the  fight  is  all  out  of 
the  men.  I  do  not  possibly  see  how  we  can 
assume  the  offensive." 

"Look  here,  Sherman,"  replied  Grant.  "Re- 
member how  it  was  at  Donelson.  If  we  assume  the 
offensive  in  the  morning  a  glorious  victory  awaits 
us.  Lew  Wallace  is  here ;  Buell  will  have  at  least 
20,000   fresh   troops   on   the  field.     The  Confeder- 


SHILOH.  305 

ates,  like  ourselves,  are  exhausted  and  demoralized. 
If  we  become  the  aggressors,  success  is  sure." 

Sherman  became  convinced ;  his  fears  were  gone, 
his  hopes  revived. 

Why  was  it  that  the  fiery  and  impetuous  Nelson 
was  so  late  in  getting  on  the  field?  He  was  only 
nine  miles  away  early  in  the  morning,  and  had  re- 
ceived orders  from  Grant  to  move  his  division  oppo- 
site Pittsburg  Landing.  If  there  had  been  any 
roads  there  would  have  been  no  excuse  for  his  de- 
lay. But  a  heavily  timbered,  swampy  bottom  lay 
between  him  and  his  destination.  The  river  had 
been  very  high,  overflowing  the  whole  bottom,  and 
when  the  water  had  receded  it  left  a  waste  of  mud, 
from  which  all  vestige  of  a  road  had  disappeared. 
To  plunge  into  that  waste  of  mud  and  wilder- 
ness without  a  guide  would  have  been  madness.  A 
guide,  though  Grant  said  one  could  easily  be  found, 
could  not  be  secured.  So  Nelson  sent  a  staff  offi- 
cer to  see  if  he  could  find  a  practicable  route.  This 
officer  did  not  return  until  noon.  All  of  this  time 
the  division  lay  listening  to  the  booming  of  cannon 
and  eager  to  be  led  to  the  fray.  As  for  Nelson,  he 
fretted  and  fumed,  stormed  and  swore  at  the  delay. 

"The  expected  has  come,"  he  growled,  "and 
here  I  am  doing  no  more  good  than  if  I  were  a 
hundred  miles  away.  Might  have  been  on  the 
field,  too,  if  Grant  had  not  kept  saying,  'No  use 
hurrying!'  I  knew  they  were  a  set  of  fools  to 
think  that  Johnston  would  sit  down  at  Corinth  and 
suck  his  thumbs." 


3o6  GENERAL   NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

At  length  a  guide  was  found  who  said  he  could 
pilot  the  division  through  the  bottom,  but  that  the 
route  was  passable  only  for  horsemen  and  infantry; 
the  artillery  would  have  to  be  left  behind.  The 
division  started  at  one  o'clock,  the  men  keeping 
step  to  the  music  of  the  thunder  of  cannon. 

"This  beats  Donelson,"  remarked  Fred,  as  the 
roar  of  artillery  never  ceased. 

"My  boy,"  replied  Nelson,  "the  greatest  battle 
ever  fought  on  this  continent  is  now  being  waged. 
God  grant  that  we  may  get  there  in  time.  It  was 
rumored  at  Savannah  that  the  Confederates  were 
sweeping  everything  before  them." 

"Your  division  will  surely  give  a  good  account 
of  itself,"  said  Fred,  looking  back,  his  eyes  spark- 
ling with  enthusiasm.  "See  how  eager  the  men 
are,  and  how  well  they  keep  closed  up,  notwith- 
standing the  mud.  Half  of  them  are  mourning 
because  they  think  the  battle  will  be  over  before 
they  get  there." 

"No  danger  of  that,"  replied  Nelson.  "The 
question  is,  shall  we  be  in  time." 

Soon  the  roll  of  musketry  began  to  be  heard; 
then  the  cheers  of  the  combatants.  A  quiver  of 
excitement  ran  along  the  lines,  and  every  soldier 
grasped  his  musket  with  a  firmer  hold.  As  they 
approached  the  river  cannon  balls  began  to  crash 
through  the  treetops  above  them ;  then  was  heard 
the  peculiar  whir  of  the  minie  ball  when  it  is  nearly 
spent — so  close  was  the  fighting  to  the  river. 

To   Fred's  surprise,    he  saw   numerous  skulkers 


SHILOH.  307 

dodging  through  the  timber  on  the  same  side  of  the 
river  as  himself.  In  some  manner  they  had  man- 
aged to  get  across  the  river;  not  only  this,  but  the 
boats  which  came  to  ferry  Nelson's  troops  over 
were  more  or  less  crowded  with  these  skulkers, 
who  would  have  died  rather  than  be  driven  off. 
In  the  river  were  seen  men  on  logs  making  their 
way  across,  and  some  of  these  men  wore  shoulder 
straps. 

So  incensed  were  Nelson's  soldiers  at  the  sight 
of  such  cowardice  that  they  begged  for  permission 
to  shoot  them. 

As  they  landed,  Fred  stood  aghast  at  the  sight 
before  him.  Cowering  beneath  the  high  bank  were 
thousands  upon  thousands  of  trembhng  wretches. 
It  was  a  dense  mass  of  shivering,  weeping,  wailing, 
swearing,  praying  humanity,  each  one  lost  to 
shame,  lost  to  honor,  lost  to  everything  but  that 
dreadful  fear  which  chained  him  soul  and  body. 

As  Nelson's  advance  brigade  forced  its  way 
through  the  panic-stricken  throng,  they  were 
greeted  with,  "You  are  all  going  to  your  death! 
You  are  all  going  to  your  death!" 

"Back!  back!"  roared  Nelson,  purple  with  rage. 
"Don't  touch  my  men;  you  contaminate  them; 
do  n't  speak  to  them,  you  cowards,  miscreants,  you 
should  be  swept  from  the  face  of  the  earth." 

And  in  the  fury  of  his  wrath.  Nelson  begged 
for  the  privilege  of  turning  cannon  on  them. 

With  firm,  unwavering  steps,  and  well  closed 
up,    the   division   pressed    their   way  up  the  bank, 


3o8  GENERAL   NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

and  there  were  soldiers  in  the  ranks  who  looked  with 
contempt  on  the  shivering  wretches  below  the  hill, 
who  themselves,  the  next  day,  fled  in  terror  from 
the  awful  destruction  going  on  around  them.  So 
little  do  we  know  ourselves  and  what  we  will  do 
when  the  supreme  moment  comes. 

Afterward  the  great  majority  of  the  soldiers  who 
cowered  under  the  bank  at  Shiloh  covered  them- 
selves with  glory,  and  hundreds  of  them  laid  down 
their  lives  for  their  country. 

Fred  always  remembered  that  night  on  the  bat- 
tlefield. From  the  Landing  came  the  groans  and 
shrieks  of  the  wounded,  tortured  under  the  knives 
of  the  surgeons.  The  night  was  as  dark  and  cloudy 
as  the  day  had  been  bright  and  clear.  About 
eleven  o'clock  a  torrent  of  rain  fell,  drenching  the 
living,  and  cooling  the  fevered  brows  of  the  wounded. 
Fred  sat  against  a  tree,  holding  the  bridle  of  his 
horse  in  his  hand.  If  by  chance  he  fell  asleep,  he 
would  be  awakened  by  the  great  cannon  of  the  gun- 
boats, which  threw  shells  far  inland  every  fifteen 
minutes. 

At  the  first  dawn  of  day  Nelson's  division  ad- 
vanced, and  the  battle  began.  Fred  acted  as  aid 
to  Nelson,  and  as  the  general  watched  him  as  he 
rode  amid  the  storm  of  bullets  unmoved  he  would 
say  to  those  around  him:  "Just  see  that  boy; 
there  is  the  making  of  a  hero." 

About  eleven  o'clock  one  of  Nelson's  brigades 
made  a  most  gallant  charge.  Wheeling  to  the 
right,    the   brigade   swept   the  Confederate  line  for 


SHILOH.  309 

more  than  half  a  mile.  Before  them  the  enemy 
fled,  a  panic-stricken  mob.  A  battery  was  run  over 
as  though  the  guns  were  blocks  of  wood,  instead  of 
iron-throated  rhonsters  vomiting  forth  fire  and 
death.  In  the  thickest  of  the  fight,  Fred  noticed 
Robert  Marsden,  the  betrothed  of  Mabel  Vaughn, 
cheering  on  his  men. 

"Ah!"  thought  Fred,  "he  is  worthy  of  Mabel. 
May  his  life  be  spared  to  make  her  happy." 

On,  on  swept  the  brigade;  a  second  battery  was 
reached,  and  over  one  of  the  guns  he  saw  Marsden 
fighting  like  a  tiger.  Then  the  smoke  of  battle  hid 
him  from  view. 

On  the  left  Fred  saw  a  mere  boy  spring  from  out 
an  Indiana  regiment,  shoot  down  a  Confederate 
color-bearer,  snatch  the  colors  from  his  dying 
grasp,  wave  them  defiantly  in  the  face  of  the 
enemy,  and  then  coolly  walk  back  to  his  place  in 
the  ranks. 

General  Nelson  saw  the  act,  and  turning  to 
Fred,  said:  "I  want  you  to  hunt  that  boy  up,  and 
bring  him  to  me  after  the  battle." 

But  the  brigade  paid  dearly  for  its  daring 
charge.  A  strong  line,  lying  down,  let  the  fright- 
ened fugitives  pass  over  them ;  then  they  arose  and 
poured  a  deadly  volley  into  the  very  faces  of  the 
charging  column.  Cannon  in  front  and  on  the  flank 
tore  great  gaps  through  the  line.  The  brigade 
halted,  wavered,  and  then  fled  wildly  back,  leaving 
a  third  of  its  number  dead  and  wounded. 

By  three  o'clock  the  battle  was  over;  the  Con- 


3IO  GENERAL   NELSON'S   SCOUT. 

federates  were  in  full  retreat,  and  the  bloody  field 
of  Shiloh  won. 

As  the  firing  died  away,  Fred  sat  on  his  horse 
and  shudderingly  surveyed  the  field.  The  muddy 
ground  was  trampled  as  by  the  feet  of  giants.  The 
forest  was  shattered  as  by  ten  thousand  thunder- 
bolts, while  whole  thickets  had  been  leveled,  as 
though  a  huge  jagged  scythe  had  swept  over  them. 

By  tree  and  log,  in  every  thicket,  on  every  hill- 
side, dotting  every  field,  lay  the  dead  and  wounded. 
Many  of  the  dead  were  crushed  out  of  all  semblance 
of  humanity,  trampled  beneath  the  hoof  of  the  war- 
horse  or  ground  beneath  the  ponderous  wheels  of 
the  artillery.  Over  20,000  men  lay  dead  and 
wounded,  Confederate  and  Federal  commingled. 

But  Grant's  army  was  saved.  The  fondest 
hopes  of  the  Confederates  had  been  blasted;  in- 
stead of  marching  triumphantly  forward  to  Nash- 
ville, as  they  hoped,  they  retreated  sullenly  back 
to  Corinth. 

But  the  battle  brought  the  war  to  the  hearts  of 
the  people  as  it  had  never  been  brought  before. 
From  the  stricken  homes  of  the  North  and  the 
South  there  arose  a  great  wail  of  agony — a  weeping 
for  those  who  would  not  return. 


CHAPTER    XX. 

"MY   SON!     MY   SON!" 

ON  Monday  morning,  just  as  the  first  scattering 
shots  of  Nelson's  skirmishers  were  heard, 
Calhoun  Pennington  presented  himself  before  the 
Hon.  G.  M,  Johnson,  Provisional  Governor  of 
Kentucky,  on  whose  staff  he  was.  When  the  Con- 
federates retreated  from  Bowling  Green  Governor 
Johnson  accompanied  the  Kentucky  brigade  south, 
and  although  not  a  soldier  he  had  bravely  fought 
throughout  the  entire  battle  of  the  day  before. 

The  Governor  and  General  Beauregard  were  en- 
gaged in  earnest  conversation  when  Calhoun  came 
up,  and  both  uttered  an  exclamation  of  surprise  at 
his  forlorn  appearance.  He  was  pale  and  haggard, 
his  eyes  were  sunken  and  his  garments  were  drip- 
ping with  water,  for  he  had  just  swum  the  Ten- 
nessee river. 

"Great  heavens!  is  it  you.  Lieutenant?"  cried 
Johnson,  and  he  caught  Calhoun's  hand  and  wrung 
it  until  he  winced  with  pain. 

"It  is  what  is  left  of  me,"  answered  Calhoun, 
with  a  faint  smile. 

"You  don't  know,"  continued  Johnson,  "how 
glad  I  am  to  see  you.      I  had  given  you  up  for  lost, 

3" 


313  GENERAL   NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

and  bitterly  blamed  myself  for  allowing  you  to  go 
on  your  dangerous  undertaking.  Where  have  you 
been?     What  has  kept  you  so  long?" 

"First,"  answered  Calhoun,  "I  must  speak  to 
General  Beauregard,"  and,  saluting,  he  said: 
"General,  I  bring  you  heavy  news.  Buell  has 
joined  Grant." 

Beauregard  started  and  turned  pale.  "I  feared 
it,  I  feared  it,  when  the  Federals  opened  the  battle 
this  morning.  I  was  just  telling  the  Governor  as 
you  came  up  that  Grant  would  never  have  assumed 
the  offensive  if  he  had  not  been  reinforced." 

"Oh!"  said  Calhoun,  "if  I  had  only  been  a 
couple  of  days  earlier;  if  you  had  only  attacked  a 
couple  of  days  sooner!" 

"That  was  the  calculation,"  answered  Beaure- 
gard, "but  the  dreadful  roads  retarded  us.  Then 
we  did  not  expect  Buell  for  two  or  three  days  yet. 
Our  scouts  brought  us  information  that  he  was  to 
halt  at  least  a  couple  of  days  at  Waynesborough." 

"So  he  was,"  answered  Calhoun,  bitterly;  "and 
he  would  have  done  so  if  it  had  not  been  for  that 
renegade  Kentuckian,  General  Nelson.  He  it  was 
who  rushed  through,  and  made  it  possible  for  Buell 
to  be  on  the  field  to-day." 

"Do  you  know  how  many  men  Buell  has?" 
anxiously  inquired  Beauregard. 

"Three  strong  divisions;  I  should  say  full 
20,000." 

Beauregard  groaned.  All  visions  of  victory 
were  dissolved.     "I  thank  you.  Lieutenant,  for  your 


"MT  SON!    MT  SON!''  313 

information,  altliough  it  is  the  knell  of  defeat. 
Yesterday  we  fought  for  victory;  to-day  I  shall 
have  to  fight  to  save  my  army."  So  saying  he 
mounted  his  horse  and  galloped  rapidly  to  the  scene 
of  action. 

"This  is  bad  news  that  you  bring,  Lieutenant," 
said  the  Governor,  after  Beauregard  had  gone. 
"But  tell  me  about  yourself ;  you  must  have  been 
in  trouble." 

"Yes,  Governor,  serious  trouble.  At  first  I  was 
very  successful,  and  found  out  that  Nelson  expected 
to  be  in  Savannah  by  April  5th.  I  was  just  start- 
ing back  with  this  important  information,  informa- 
tion which  meant  victory  for  our  cause,  when  I  was 
suddenly  set  upon  and  captured  before  I  had  time 
to  raise  a  hand.  I  was  accused  of  being  a  spy,  but 
there  was  no  proof  against  me,  the  only  person  who 
could  have  convicted  me  being  a  cousin,  who  re- 
fused to  betray  me;  but  he  managed  to  hold  me 
until  my  knowledge  could  do  no  good." 

"It  looks  as  though  the  hand  of  God  were 
against  us,"  solemnly  responded  Johnson.  "If 
you  had  not  been  captured,  we  would  surely  have 
attacked    a    day    or    two    earlier,    and     a    glorious 

victory  would  have  awaited  us.      But  now "  the 

Governor  paused,  choked  back  something  like  a  sob, 
and  then  continued:  "There  is  no  use  of  vain  re- 
grets. See,  the  battle  is  on,  and  I  must  once  more 
take  my  place  in  the  ranks  and  do  my  duty." 

"Must  do  what,  Governor?"  asked  Calhoun  in 
surprise. 


314  GENERAL   NELSON'S   SCOUT. 

"Must  fight  in  the  ranks  as  a  private  soldier,  as 
I  did  yesterday,"  replied  the  Governor  calmly. 

"I  shall  go  with  you,"  replied  Calhoun. 

"So  side  by  side  the  Governor  and  his  aid 
fought  as  private  soldiers,  and  did  yeoman  service. 
Just  before  the  battle  closed,  in  repelling  the  last 
furious  charge  of  the  Federals,  Governor  Johnson 
gave  a  sharp  cry,  staggered,  and  would  have  fallen 
if  he  had  not  been  caught  in  the  arms  of  Calhoun. 
Loving  hands  carried  him  back,  but  the  brave  spirit 
had  fled  forever.  Thus  died  the  most  distinguished 
private  soldier  that  fell  on  the  field  of  Shiloh. 

One  of  the  first  acts  of  Fred  after  the  battle  was 
over  was  to  ride  in  search  of  Robert  Marsden.  He 
found  him  lying  in  a  heap  of  slain  at  the  place 
where  the  battery  had  been  charged.  A  bullet  had 
pierced  the  center  of  the  miniature  flag,  and  it  was 
wet  with  his  heart's  blood.  Reverently  Fred  re- 
moved the  flag,  closed  the  sightless  eyes,  and  gave 
orders  that  the  body,  as  soon  as  possible,  be  sent  to 
Louisville. 

As  he  was  returning  from  this  sad  duty,  he 
thought  of  the  errand  given  him  by  General  Nelson 
to  hunt  up  the  boy  whom  they  saw  capture  the  col- 
ors. Riding  up  to  the  regiment,  he  made  inquiry, 
and  to  his  surprise  and  delight  found  that  the  hero 
was  Hugh  Raymond. 

"Hello,  Hugh!  don't  you  remember  me?" 
asked  Fred,  when  the  boy  presented  himself. 

"Yes,  sir,"  replied  Hugh,  respectfully.  "You 
are   the  young   officer  who  got  me  released  when 


"ii/r  so  AT/  Mr  SON!''  315 

General   Nelson   tied   me   to   the   cannon.      I  have 
never  ceased  to  feel  grateful  towards  you." 

"Well,  Hugh,  General  Nelson  wants  to  see  you 
again." 

Hugh  opened  his  eyes  in  wonder.  "Don't 
want  to  tie  me  up  again,  does  he?"  he  asked,  with 
a  shiver. 

"I  expect  so.  He  saw  you  capture  that  flag 
and  he  is  awful  mad;  so  come  along." 

"General,"  said  Fred,  when  he  had  found  Nel- 
son, "here  is  the  brave  boy  who  captured  the  col- 
ors." 

"That  was  a  gallant  act,  my  boy,"  kindly  re- 
marked Nelson,  "and  you  deserve  the  thanks  of 
your  general." 

"It  was  nothing.  General,"  replied  Hugh.  "It 
just  made  me  mad  to  have  them  shake  their  dirty 
rag  in  my  face,  and  I  resolved  to  have  it." 

This  answer  pleased  Nelson  immensely.  He 
noticed  Hugh  more  closely,  and  then  suddenly 
asked:  "Have  I  not  seen  you  somewhere  before, 
my  boy?" 

"Yes,  General,"  replied  Hugh,  trembling. 

"Where?" 

"On  the  march  here,  when  you  tied  me  by  the 
wrists  to  a  cannon  for  straggling." 

Nelson  was  slightly  taken  back  by  the  answer; 
then  an  amused  look  came  into  his  face,  and 
he  said,  in  a  bantering  tone:  "Liked  it,  didn't 
you? 

"Liked   it!    liked   it!"    exclaimed    Hugh,    with 


3l6  GENERAL   NELSON'S   SCOUT. 

flaming  eyes.  "I  was  just  mad  enough  at  you 
to  kill  you." 

"There  is  the  boy  forme,"  said  Nelson,  turning 
to  his  staff.  "He  not  only  captures  flags,  but  he 
tells  his  general  to  his  face  what  he  thinks  of  him." 
Then  addressing  Hugh,  he  continued:  "I  want  a 
good  orderly,  and  I  will  detail  you  for  the  posi- 
tion." 

So  Hugh  Raymond  became  an  orderly  to  Gen- 
eral Nelson,  and  learned  to  love  him  as  much  as 
he  once  hated  him. 

Now  occurred  one  of  those  strange  psychological 
impressions  which  science  has  never  yet  explained. 
A  feeling  came  to  Fred  that  he  must  ride  over  the 
battlefield.  It  was  as  if  some  unseen  hand  was 
pulling  him,  some  power  exerted  that  he  could  not 
resist.  He  mounted  his  horse  and  rode  away,  the 
course  he  took  leading  him  to  the  place  where  Tra- 
bue's  Kentucky  brigade  made  its  last  desperate 
stand. 

Suddenly  the  prostrate  figure  of  a  Confederate 
officer,  apparently  dead,  attracted  Fred's  attention. 
As  he  looked  a  great  fear  clutched  at  his  heart, 
causing  it  to  stand  still.  Springing  from  his  horse, 
he  bent  over  the  death-like  form ;  then  with  a  cry 
of  anguish  sank  on  his  knees  beside  it.  He  had 
looked  into  the  face  of  his  father. 

"Oh!  he  is  dead,  he  is  dead!"  he  moaned. 

Bending  down,  he  placed  his  ear  over  his 
father's  heart;  a  faint  fluttering  could  be  heard. 


Sprin.ijin,^^  from  his  Horse,  he  bent  o\er  the  death-like  form. 


"Mr  SON!    MT  SON!''  317 

''It  beats!  he  lives!  he  lives!"  he  cried,  joy- 
ously. 

With  eager  eyes  he  searched  for  the  wound.  A 
ball  had  shattered  Colonel  Shackelford's  leg,  and 
he  was  bleeding  to  death. 

For  Fred  to  cut  away  the  clothing  from  around 
the  wound,  and  then  to  take  a  handkerchief  and 
tightly  twist  it  around  the  limb  above  the  wound 
was  the  work  of  a  moment.  The  flow  of  blood 
was  stopped.  Tenderly  was  Colonel  Shackelford 
carried  back,  his  weeping  son  walking  by  his  side. 
The  surgeon  carefully  examined  the  wounded  limb, 
and  then  brusquely  said:  "It  will  have  to  come 
off." 

"Oh!  no,  no,  not  that!"  cried  Fred,  piteously. 

"It's  that,  or  his  life,"  shortly  answered  the 
surgeon. 

"Do  it  then,"  hoarsely  replied  Fred,  as  he 
turned  away  unable  to  bear  the  cruel  sight. 

When  Colonel  Shackelford  came  to  himself,  he 
was  lying  in  a  state-room  in  a  steamboat,  and  was 
rapidly  gliding  down  the  Tennessee.  Fred  was  sit- 
ting by  his  side,  watching  every  movement,  for 
his  father  had  been  hovering  between  life  and  death. 

"Where  am  I?  What  has  happened?"  Colonel 
Shackelford  faintly  asked. 

"Dear  father,"  whispered  Fred,  "you  have 
been  very  sick.  Do  n't  talk,"  and  he  gave  him  a 
soothing  potion. 

The  colonel  took  it  without  a  word,  and  sank 


3i8  GENERAL   NELSOISPS  SCOUT. 

into  a  quiet  slumber.  The  surgeon  came  in,  and 
looking  at  him,  said:  "It  is  all  right,  captain;  he 
has  passed  the  worst,  and  careful  nursing  will  bring 
him  around." 

When  the  surgeon  was  gone  Fred  fell  on  his 
knees  and  poured  out  his  soul  in  gratitude  that  his 
father  was  to  live. 

When  Colonel  Shackelford  became  strong 
enough  to  hear  the  story,  Fred  told  him  all;  how 
he  found  him  on  the  battlefield  nearly  dead  from 
the  loss  of  blood ;  how  he  bound  up  his  wound  and 
saved  his  life. 

"And  now,  father,"  he  said,  "I  am  taking  you 
home — home  where  we  can  be  happy  once  more." 

The  wounded  man  closed  his  eyes  and  did  not 
speak.      Fred  sank  on  his  knees  beside  him. 

"Father,"  he  moaned,  "father,  can  you  not  for- 
give? Can  you  not  take  me  to  your  heart  and  love 
me  once  more?" 

The  father  trembled;  then  stretching  forth  his 
feeble  arm,  he  gently  placed  his  hand  on  the  head 
of  his  boy  and  murmured,  "My  son!  my  son!" 
and  they  mingled  their  glad  tears  together.  In  the 
old  Kentucky  home  Fred  nursed  his  father  back  to 
health  and  strength. 

But  another  sad  duty  remained  for  Fred  to  per- 
form. As  soon  as  he  felt  that  he  could  safely  leave 
his  father,  he  went  to  Louisville  and  placed  in 
Mabel  Vaughn's  hands  the  little  flag,  torn  by  the 
cruel  bullet  and  crimsoned  with  the  heart's  blood  of 
her  lover.     The  color  fled  from  her  face,  she  tot- 


"^/r  SON!    MT  SON."'  319 

tered,  and  Fred  thought  she  was  going  to  faint,  but 
she  recovered  herself  quickly,  and  leading  him  to  a 
seat  said  gently:     "Now  tell  me  all  about  it." 

Fred  told  her  of  the  dreadful  charge;  how  Mars- 
den,  in  the  very  front,  among  the  bravest  of  the 
brave,  had  found  a  soldier's  death ;  and  when  he  had 
finished  the  girl  raised  her  streaming  eyes  to 
heaven  and  thanked  God  that  he  had  given  her 
such  a  lover. 

Then  standing  before  Fred,  her  beautiful  face 
rendered  still  more  beautiful  by  her  sorrow,  she 
said: 

"Robert  is  gone,  but  I  still  have  a  work  to  do. 
Hereafter  I  shall  do  what  I  can  to  alleviate  the 
sufferings  of  those  who  uphold  the  country's  flag. 
In  memory  of  this,"  and  she  pressed  the  little 
blood-stained  flag  to  her  lips,  "I  devote  my  life  to 
this  sacred  object." 

And  binding  up  her  broken  heart,  she  went  forth 
on  her  mission  of  love.  She  cooled  the  fevered 
brow,  she  bound  up  the  broken  limb,  she  whispered 
words  of  consolation  into  the  ear  of  the  dying,  and 
wiped  the  death  damp  from  the  marble  brow.  Her 
very  presence  was  a  benediction,  and  those  whose 
minds  wandered  would  whisper  as  she  passed  that 
they  had  seen  an  angel. 

Calhoun  Pennington  bitterly  mourned  the  death 
of  his  chief.  He  afterward  joined  his  fortune  with 
John  H.  Morgan,  and  became  one  of  that  famous 
raider's  most  daring  and  trusted  officers. 

For  some  weeks  Fred  remained  at  home,  happy 


320  GENERAL   NELSON'S  SCOUT. 

in  the  company  and  love  of  his  father.  But  their 
peace  was  rudely  disturbed  by  the  raids  of  Morgan, 
and  then  by  the  invasion  of  Kentucky  by  the  Con- 
federate armies. 

After  the  untimely  death  of  Nelson,  Fred  became 
attached  to  the  staff  of  General  George  H.  Thomas, 
and  greatly  distinguished  himself  in  the  numerous 
campaigns  participated  in  by  that  famous  general. 
But  he  never  performed  more  valiant  service  than 
when  he  was  known  as  "General  Nelson's  Scout." 


THE  END. 


I 


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